Who has LI’s best tap water?

The Long Island Water Conference began its 26th annual Best Tasting Water competition this week, with more than two dozen water districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties squaring off.

The contest kicked off Tuesday at Farmingdale State College, and on Wednesday volunteers were still tasting entries in the First Stop Cafe at the Campus Commons as part of a double-blind sampling.

The water in one particular flask didn’t work for one taster. “It’s worse than taking medicine,” Ruth Russo of Farmingdale, the head of the cafe staff, said after trying one. “I want to know which district this is from.”

Other samples were much gentler on the palate, and some were even difficult to differentiate.

“Two of them had similar tastes, and two of them had a taste all to themselves,” said junior Michael Tinari of East Northport. “I feel like the two that were the same had similar taste to where I live.”

Michael Boufis, the second vice chair of the Long Island Water Conference -- which was formed in 1951 to help maintain water quality -- is in charge of the competition. He said a district’s water flavor comes from the level and types of chemicals each district uses.

Some districts may require more or less chlorine to reach required biotic levels, and each district has the option of using sodium hypochlorate (liquid chlorine) or calcium hypochlorate (solid chlorine) to disinfect water.

“Oh man. One of them tasted like a pool,” said junior Angela Randazzo of East Northport.

Dix Hills Water District claimed victory in the Suffolk County competition, which concluded Wednesday. Bethpage took home the gold from Nassau on Thursday. There will be a final competition to determine the best water on Long Island, which has not yet been scheduled.

“I was looking for a cool crisp flavor, very little after-taste,” said Peter Schimmel, who is responsible for monitoring water chemistry for the Bethpage Water District. “The best tasting water is one that’s cool, refreshing with almost the absence of flavor.”

Photo: Ruth Russo, of Farmingdale State College cafe staff, wasn't pleased with one sample of water she tried Wednesday.