"From Waste to Cheers: The Rise of Wastewater Beer"

As water sources continue to dry up due to overuse, drought, and climate change, breweries are partnering with wastewater technology companies to create beers made with treated wastewater. The goal is to promote the wider acceptance of direct potable reuse, the use of treated wastewater in the drinking water supply. By serving recycled wastewater in the form of beer, breweries hope to overcome the "ick factor" associated with drinking treated wastewater. Some cities in the western United States, such as Scottsdale, Arizona, have held competitions for craft breweries to produce signature beers using recycled wastewater to raise awareness of the need for water reuse. Efforts to promote recycled drinking water have faced perception challenges, but research has shown that recycled wastewater is safe to drink and often cleaner than other tap water sources.