February 21-24, 2013 - Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- The 23rd Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting seminar on Friday, February 22 features two major figures as well as a local teenager with an impressive series of science fair wins. "Water: Beneath the Surface and Around the Globe” kicks off weekend activities and offers both the public and members of the municipal and bottled water industries the opportunity to engage various water experts. Scheduled from 1-5pm, the seminar, and Saturday’s official tastings, are held at Berkeley Springs Inn Best Western Conference Center in Berkeley Springs.

Dr. Kathy Gruver hosts the national TV show based on her first book, The Alternative Medicine Cabinet. A PhD in Natural Health, Gruver explores the history and effectiveness of water as a healing element with her presentation, “To your health: water as healing, inside and out.”

Henry R. Hidell, III, founder of Hidell International presents “Water, Spirituality and Ernest Hemingway - the thread of the stream," in which he weaves together the physics of water, the need for connectedness and Hemingway's use of water in his novels and short stories.

Hidell is recognized as an expert in international economic and business development and has actively participated in the development of beverage industry organizations, trade groups and production facilities throughout the world. He is the Berkeley Springs Water Tasting's second recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented on Saturday night. Posing the choice we have between “don’t drink the water” or “water is our most precious resource," Robert M. Beringer, Vice President, for Water & Wastewater, JMT Engineers in Sparks, MD. focuses on sustainability, historic abuses and life-saving advances with his presentation: “Brilliant Water” Are We Ready For the Future?”

Christopher Hogan, Vice President of Communications, International Bottled Water Association outlines some of the challenges facing the bottled water industry, the approaches IBWA is taking to meet them, and the importance of separating fact from fiction.

“We're thrilled to have very special presenter this year,” said Jill Klein Rone, staff producer for the event. Michael Pracht is an 11th grade student at Paw Paw High School in Morgan County whose water-based project has been winning awards at local and state science fairs including the prestigious West Virginia Stockholm Junior Water Prize presented by the WV Water Environment Federation. "His project has a mind-twisting scientific title," said Rone "but what it does is compare cleaning up oil spills with human hair to more conventional methods."

The two-day Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting hosts more than 100 waters from all over the world at the Berkeley Springs Inn Best Western Conference Center on Friday and Saturday, February 22 and 23. It is produced by Travel Berkeley Springs. For more information on special activities and sales throughout the county call 800-447-8797 or check the award winning website—www.BerkeleySprings.com

Bios of seminar speakers, and more information on their topics, are also available on the website. http://www.berkeleysprings.com/water/about.htm



DWRF – Drinking Water Research Foundation

Hidell International endorses the Mission Statement of DWRF.

The Drinking Water Research Foundation Mission Statement

The Drinking Water Research Foundation (DWRF) is an independent, not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 foundation that was established in 1984 by several members of the bottled water and point of use drinking water filtration industries:


  • To conduct research and disseminate information regarding the sources, evaluation and production of safe and affordable drinking water, including bottled water, tap water and filtered water, and the associated health benefits related thereto.
  • To evaluate alternative techniques for production and delivery of drinking water under emergency conditions.
  • To educate the public and provide information regarding effective means for complying with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and related state and international laws and regulations.
  • To provide education to the public regarding drinking water quality, production and delivery.

For more information please visit: http://www.thefactsaboutwater.org