Buzz
The idea of sipping on wastewater from showers or sinks rarely crosses anyone’s mind when craving a refreshing drink.
However, one innovative company aims to shift this perspective. Epic Cleantec, a forward-thinking water treatment firm, has developed a unique beer using purified household wastewater.
This beverage was created using graywater collected from a 40-story apartment building in San Francisco, which includes waste from sinks and bathtubs. (Blackwater, on the other hand, refers to wastewater with higher solid content, and we’ll stop there.) The contaminated water, filled with pathogens, hair, food particles, and other undesirable elements, undergoes treatment with ultraviolet light and microfiltration to transform it into a safe and sustainable water source.
You can watch the entire process unfold in the video provided below.
Although many people find the concept unappealing, supporters claim that the thorough treatment process—which may also involve chlorination and reverse osmosis—produces water that’s even purer than that sourced from natural environments.
Epic Cleantec partnered with Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. to create 7000 cans of Epic OneWater Brew using this system. While the beer was distributed at an environmental conference last year, it cannot be sold commercially due to regulations that typically ban the distribution of recycled wastewater. The company aims to highlight the potential of treated wastewater as a non-potable resource, such as for use in washing machines or toilets.
However, Epic Cleantec envisions a future where consumers embrace recycled water for drinking. Arizona, for instance, already allows recycled wastewater in beer production. CEO Aaron Tartakovsky describes the beer as “simply delicious” and even served it at his own wedding, demonstrating his dedication to the company’s mission.
