Singapore craft beer uses recycled sewage to highlight water scarcity
Collaboration between national water agency and craft brewer described as ‘highly quaffable’
It is a beer made with only the finest ingredients: premium German barley malts, aromatic Citra and Calypso hops, farmhouse yeast from Norway – and reclaimed sewage.
Reported by “The Guardian”
Singapore, a sunny, tropical and densely populated city state, is especially vulnerable to water scarcity. It is considered one of the most water stressed countries in the world, heavily dependent on rainfall owing to its lack of natural water resources and lack of space for water collection and storage facilities.
Over the years, the country has invested in new ways to ensure a sustainable supply of water, and reduce its dependency on water imported from its neighbouring country, Malaysia. This includes methods such as rainwater harvesting, seawater desalination and treating wastewater.
Through such investments, the country’s national water agency, PUB developed NEWater. Singapore’s NEWater is made by subjecting sewage water to a microfiltration that weeds out microscopic particles and bacteria. The treated water is then put through a phase of reverse osmosis and ultraviolet disinfection that is aimed at killing the remaining bacteria and viruses, ensuring purity.
While NEWater is mainly used for cooling, industrial processes, and to top up reservoirs, PUB collaborated with a local brewery to develop NEWBrew. Beer made with recycled sewage. Even though there was initial resistance, NEWBrew has now become one of the most popular beers in Singapore. It has no hint of its unsavoury origins because NEWater tastes neutral.
Following Singapore, a few other countries too are slowly adopting this practice to protect their water resources. With water resources depleting, the way forward is recycling and developing advanced technology that convinces the public that treated water can be reused for multiple purposes.
