Epic OneWater Brew is not your average craft beer. This hipster drink comes in a sleek can with a city skyline design and releases a satisfying hiss when opened. Its crisp golden color and fruity taste make it truly unique. But what sets Epic OneWater Brew apart is its main ingredient—recycled wastewater.
Developed through a collaboration between a wastewater technology start-up and a Bay Area craft brewery, Epic OneWater Brew is made using treated shower and laundry water collected from a luxury high-rise apartment building in San Francisco. And it’s not the only beer of its kind.
As water sources become scarce due to overuse, drought, and climate change, advocates of direct potable reuse (using treated wastewater in drinking water) are turning to beer as a way to overcome the “ick factor” associated with recycled water. By serving recycled wastewater in the form of a cold beer, they hope to entice people to reconsider this untapped potential in water reuse.
Aaron Tartakovsky, co-founder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, the wastewater technology company behind Epic OneWater Brew, wants to challenge the societal aversion to wastewater topics. He believes that by normalizing the conversation around wastewater, people can better understand the benefits of water reuse.
Several cities in the Western and Southwestern United States have embraced recycled wastewater for use in brewing beer as a means to raise awareness. Competitions have been organized, inviting craft breweries to create signature beers using recycled wastewater. States like California, Idaho, and Arizona have collaborated with local breweries to highlight the importance of water reuse.
Scottsdale, Arizona, has been using treated wastewater on its golf courses since the 1990s. The city received a permit in 2019 to explore direct potable reuse. To familiarize the public with the concept of drinking treated wastewater, Scottsdale Water invited ten breweries to make beer using water from their advanced water treatment plant. The beers were served at an arts festival, accompanied by information booths explaining the recycling process. While initially hesitant, many attendees were eager to sample the beers after learning about the safety and purity of the treated water.
Desert Monks Brewing Company in Arizona has fully embraced the concept of using recycled wastewater in brewing. They have brewed two beers using Scottsdale’s treated wastewater: Sonoran Mist, a lager, and a Hefeweizen to be added soon. Desert Monks believes they are the first brewery in the country to consistently offer tap beers made with recycled wastewater.
The perception problem surrounding recycled drinking water has hindered its wider adoption. Critics often dub it “toilet to tap.” However, researchers at Stanford University have found that recycled wastewater is safe to drink and even less toxic than other tap water sources due to more rigorous treatment processes. In Scottsdale, this involves ozone infusion, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light treatments to remove impurities.
Chris Garrett, the owner of Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, noted that people have preconceived notions about wastewater. However, after trying Epic OneWater Brew, many were pleasantly surprised, realizing that the treated water used is cleaner than water from natural sources. Taste plays a significant role in overcoming the “ick factor.”
The idea for Epic OneWater Brew originated from a San Francisco ordinance requiring new buildings over 100,000 square feet to implement onsite water reuse programs. Epic Cleantec, in partnership with 1550 Mission Street, a luxury apartment building, and Devil’s Canyon Brewery, turned greywater (laundry and shower runoff, excluding toilets) into beer. Although Epic OneWater Brew is not available for sale, it was served at the co-founder’s wedding.
When a brewery in Half Moon Bay, California, wanted to brew with wastewater, they sought assistance from NASA, whose astronauts use their own water recycling technology in space. The brewery received recycled greywater from NASA’s Ames Research Center and used it to produce a limited-edition India Pale Ale called Tunnel Vision. No one could distinguish it from regular water.
The Pure Water Brewing Alliance, a coalition of water utilities, brewers, engineering firms, and tech companies, aims to promote the use of recycled wastewater in beer production. Their goal is for water to be judged based on its quality rather than its history. With water scarcity becoming an increasingly urgent issue, the technology exists to clean and purify water, making widespread adoption more crucial than ever.
Boise, Idaho, turned to the alliance for help when updating its water treatment system. Pima County, Arizona, offered them a trailer with the necessary technology to turn wastewater into drinkable water. Other alliance members shared permit paperwork for using recycled wastewater in brewing, expediting the process from six months to six weeks. Boise collaborated with three breweries and a cidery, hosting events where attendees could sample drinks made with recycled wastewater.
At present, recycled wastewater beer is only available for sale in Arizona due to regulations. Breweries in California can only produce one-off beers for specific events. However, Idaho is developing a full-scale water recycling program and aims to make recycled wastewater more accessible to the public.
Desert Monks in Arizona has taken advantage of Scottsdale’s openness to public sampling of recycled wastewater. With access to large quantities of ultrapure water, the brewery has thrived. As a “huge science fiction nerd,” Mr. Decker, one of the brewery’s co-owners, aspires to offer their beer to astronauts traveling to Mars, utilizing the same water processes used by NASA.
Overall, recycled wastewater beer offers a creative solution to water scarcity. By challenging preconceptions and emphasizing the quality of the water used, advocates hope to encourage broader acceptance of water reuse. The technology and resources are available, pointing us towards a future where recycled wastewater is a vital component of sustainable water management.
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