The 18th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting was held on Saturday, with more than 120 waters competing for top honours.

Sparkling, tap and bottled water from 19 states and 9 foreign countries, including New Zealand, Romania, Macedonia and the Philippines, were in the running.

The entries were judged by ten journalists and food critics. The contest is known as the world's largest and longest-running water tasting.

The title for Best Municipal Water in 2008 is shared by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves Los Angeles, and Clearbrook, British Columbia.

'It's not the first time Los Angeles has won, they've won a number of times over the years,' said event producer Jill Klein Rone.

'It means they give special care and attention to their water and how it is processed.' Judges based their rankings on taste, odour, mouth feel, aftertaste - and checked to make sure nothing was floating in the water.

For the municipal water tastings, city water superintendent's send two gallons of water for their entries.

While cities can take pride in their water processing, bottlers have a financial interest in winning.

'Tomorrow morning, the people who won, particularly the bottled water people, their phone will be ringing off the hook,' Mr Rone said.

First-time entrant and local favourite Tumai Water of Martinsburg, West Virginia, won the best bottled water category. The company launched in 2006, and donates profits to Aids relief and water needs in Africa.

Best sparkling water honours went to Slavus Mineralwasser Medium of Emsdetten, Germany. -- AP