3 Denver Breweries On Tap To Brew Colorado's First Beer From Recycled Water For The Promotion Of Direct Potable Reuse

Industry-leader in water reuse, CH2M, delivers another solution for future proofing water supplies.

Colorado-based engineering firm CH2M is changing the way we think about water. Earlier this month, purified water was delivered to three breweries earmarked to become Colorado’s first to produce craft beer sourced from recycled community wastewater. CH2M is spearheading the effort to drive sustainable water reuse technology and to build public acceptance of direct potable reuse by transforming recycled water into purified water suitable for beer making and drinking.

Metro-Denver brewing companies Lone Tree Brewing Company, Lost Highway Brewing Company and 105 West Brewing Company, received 330 gallons of purified water produced in the AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge’s mobile advanced water purification facility, designed in part by CH2M in conjunction with the Southwest Water Campus, Pima County Wastewater, The University of Arizona, and several other participating partners as part of a Statewide competition focused on increasing community dialogue on water purification and direct potable reuse*.

“Direct potable reuse is a real solution for stressed water supplies and for future-proofing water resources for resilient cities,” said CH2M Reuse Technology Director Larry Schimmoller. “By applying this technology to something our state loves – local craft beer – we’re highlighting the positive impacts recycled water can have in communities, and helping build public support for similar water reuse initiatives.”

At CH2M’s hosted ReuseFest on Oct. 13, invited guests will have the opportunity to tour the AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge’s mobile advanced water purification facility, hear from industry experts including CH2M technology leaders and of course, taste the ReuseFest beer at an Oktoberfest-themed educational event.

“On average, it takes 60 ounces of water to brew just 12-ounces of beer, something our customers probably don’t realize when they reach for that beer bottle. With water under increasing demand, we want to do our part to build a sustainable future, and that’s why we excitedly accepted this opportunity with CH2M,” said Tina Pachorek, CEO Lost Highway Brewing Company.

In 2015 CH2M was named the Stockholm Industry Award Winner for transforming the practice and perception of wastewater. By pioneering the third step of wastewater treatment, the company challenged the concept of water reuse by showing that all water has value, including wastewater.

Said Schimmoller, “It’s our hope, and the hope of our partner breweries, that when our guests get a taste of these special batches of ReuseFest beer, their perceptions of water reuse will change for the better as they simply enjoy a great tasting beer. We appreciate the breweries donating their time and beer to help raise awareness and acceptance of recycled community wastewater treated to purified water.”

Follow the reuse journey

• Sept. 7 – Recycled Community Wastewater from Pima County’s Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility (Designed, Built and Operated by CH2M) was pumped into AZ Pure Water Brew mobile advanced water purification facility to be treated to surpass drinking water standards and shipped to Colorado
• Sept. 14 – Breweries receive purified water and can begin brewing process.
• Sept. 17 – Brewing in progress.
• Oct. 13 – Special batches of purified water craft brews served at CH2M-hosted ReuseFest.

Learn the water purification process
The recycled community wastewater from Pima County’s Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility is pumped into the AZ Pure Water Brew mobile water purification facility. Once in the trailer, it is purified using a multi-barrier purification process including ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation, activated carbon filtration and chlorine disinfection to transform recycled community wastewater into pure drinking water. Pima County, Tucson Water and the University of Arizona have performed extensive testing for all regulated drinking water contaminants as well as unregulated contaminants commonly found in treated wastewater. Not only is the water produced through the advanced water purification process safe, it is cleaner than bottled water and tastes delicious.

Learn about AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge
The Arizona Community Foundation launched the Water Innovation Challenge to address future water needs within the state and posted a $250,000 prize for the winning entry. The AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge is a statewide campaign to better inform Arizonans about water issues, water reuse and technologies currently available to purify recycled wastewater producing safe, high-quality drinking water. To help spread the word, a total of 26 brewers throughout the state produced beer with the Pure Water and competed for prizes at the AZ Pure Brew Challenge in September 2017 at the National WateReuse Symposium. CH2M’s ReuseFest is an extension of the AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge. For more information, visit www.azpurewaterbrew.org

*AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge Partners include: AquaTecture, Arizona Community Foundation, Carollo, CH2M, Clean Water Services, Dow Water & Process Solutions, Garver, GE Power; Water & Process Technologies, Grundfos, Hach, HDR, Pima County Wastewater Reclamation, Sensorex, Town of Marana, Trojan Technologies, TrojanUV, Tucson Water, University of Arizona, Water Now Alliance, WateReuse Arizona, Xylem.

Meet reuse leader, CH2M
For more than 50 years, CH2M has led the industry in potable reuse, in fact, the company won the Stockholm Industry Water Award for pioneering potable reuse and public acceptance. The landmark work CH2M led with Denver Water and Singapore’s Public Utilities Board in the 1980s and 1990s paved the way for the direct potable reuse operations being planned and executed today. Today, the company partners with utilities and agencies around the globe at the forefront of water reuse technology advancement.

About CH2M
CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. For more information, visit www.ch2m.com.