What better way to introduce toilet-to-tap than through a beer tap? Communities nation-wide are holding beer competitions with one rule: recycled wastewater must be a main ingredient. While the events feature traditional competitive beer-tasting elements, the overall goal is to remove the “ick factor” associated with recycled water.
Just two weeks ago, the Oregon Sustainable Water Challenge in Portland, Oregon featured 40 different beers made from reclaimed wastewater. Launched in 2014, the competition has gained attention from many of Oregon’s home brewers. The competitors used purified wastewater from Clean Water Services’ wastewater treatment plant in Tigard, OR. [1] Bill Schneller, a master certified beer judge, stated in an article on Koin6, “Water sustainability is more important today than ever. This is something we need to pursue and take the stigma off recycled water.” [1]
Portland isn’t the only city that is using this strategy to change public perception about wastewater reuse. Another recycled wastewater beer event in Tampa, FL was held on the same day as the Oregon Sustainable Water Challenge. The organizer of the event, Melissa Meeker, said in an article on ABCActionNews.com, “This is just a creative way to get people to think about it differently and get excited about the process.” [2] In addition, Pima County, AZ is also looking to hold a state-wide beer competition utilizing reclaimed wastewater with the same goal in mind. [3]
These competitions are providing an innovative platform to help remove the “ick-factor” and implement more water reuse strategies. Mark Jockers, Clean Water Services’ public affair manager, stated in the Koin6 article regarding the Oregon Sustainable Water Challenge, “We’re just trying to see if we change the conversation about how we get our wastewater fit for use.”
Published September 29, 2016
[1] Wells, Shannon. Sewage to brewage, beer contest uses purified wastewater. The Portland Tribune, September 11, 2016. Web. http://koin.com/2016/09/11/sewage-to-brewage-beer-contest-uses-purified-wastewater/ [2] Peterson, Jake. Craft brewers turn bad water into good beer. ABC Action News, September 11, 2016. Web. http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/water-cooler/craft-brewers-turn-bad-water-into-good-beer [3] Herrera, Sarah & Reyes, Anthony. Beer made from wastewater? Pima County proposes statewide competition. KVOA.com, August 23, 2016. Web. http://www.kvoa.com/story/32826850/beer-made-from-wastewater-pima-county-proposes-statewide-competition