I can’t wait to hear what you guys this about this! In an effort to educate people about water recycling and purification, the Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge was born this summer. As part of the challenge, 30 breweries agreed to make a beer with water from a portable system that treats wastewater. Check out their website and September winner, here.
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“Water microbiologist Channah Rock, who is leading public outreach for the brewing challenge, says the truck’s statewide tour marks the first time wastewater is being treated for reuse as drinking water in the state of Arizona.
The AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge comes at a time when state environmental regulators are nearing completion of interim rules that will allow utilities to treat reclaimed wastewater for reuse as drinking water.” 1
And don’t picture dirty, nasty water. There’s quite a process the wastewater goes through before it can be used. They use ultra-filtration which blocks bacteria and other small organisms, then “reverse osmosis to dissolve things like salts, mineral, and pharmaceuticals; and ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation to break down the DNA of bacteria and viruses.”2 That’s some CLEAN water.
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And for the contest, the wastewater was first sent through a number of water quality tests before it was given to the breweries to use.
This challenge is about so much more than just fun. It’s a way to educate people about a process that cities in Arizona hope to begin using as part of their long-term water supply plan. I mean, Arizona is a desert.
What do you think? Would you drink wastewater beer?
