ROBIN Hatfield was not surprised when Rockhampton's tap water drowned the competition in a taste test for the best water in the Fitzroy Basin yesterday.

After decades of drinking Rocky water, the former boilermaker said while it wasn't the best he'd had - it certainly wasn't the worst.

"It's okay, but it's not the best," Robin said.

"My son-in-law and some others won't drink water from the tap, but they'll drink it if it's in the fridge."

The winning water sample came from the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant, one of four water facilities in the region.

It provides water for 73,000 residents.

An independent panel judged it against samples from three other Central Queensland councils and a bottled water sample at a water conference in Emerald.

Rockhampton Regional Council water committee chairman Councillor Greg Belz, congratulated Fitzroy River Water staff on their win.

He said four judges decided the Rocky sample had no odour, no chemical or chlorine smells, a clean taste and was mildly refreshing.

But tests on Fitzroy River water by the Department of Environment and Resource Management point to a distinct rise in salinity levels over the past month.

Some community members have suggested mine discharges have been the cause, and many more have complained of a salty taste over the past few months.

One person shocked by the win was Division 7 candidate, Luke Brunsmann.

The 21-year-old said fellow council candidate Leyland Barnett had been told by a Rockhampton pet shop owner that tap water had killed all but the tiniest of their fish.

"Even the goldfish died," Luke said.

The Rockhampton sample will go up against the other Queensland region winners in the State final scheduled to be held in June.