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- Wastewater? More Like Wonder Water! The Surprising Solution to Climate Change
Wastewater? More Like Wonder Water! The Surprising Solution to Climate Change
When we heard our old friends at Epic Cleantec were brewing up something new (literally), we were inspired to share the way recycled wastewater is being used to reduce our impact on the environment and tackle climate change. From the beer industry to irrigation and industrial processes, recycled wastewater has the potential to conserve water resources and reduce our carbon footprint. Who knew!
β Written by Shayna Berglas
From Waste to Wonder
Did you know that we produce over 359 billion gallons of wastewater globally each year? That's enough to fill over 500,000 Olympic-sized pools π. Unfortunately, a lot of this wastewater never gets treated and ends up polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans, contributing to the global problem of climate change.
But there's good news. Companies are now finding ways to treat and reuse wastewater in sustainable and impactful ways.
One company leading the way in this field is Epic Cleantec. You might remember them from our micro-documentary way back in February, 2022. When we profiled them, we shared CEO & Founder Aaron Tartakovskyβs vision to take building wastewater and convert it into three outputs: clean water, soil products, and recovered wastewater heat energy. By producing this high-quality water, they can help buildings reuse anywhere from 50% to 95% of their wastewater.
But we recently heard theyβve gone one step further by using recycled wastewater to create beer πΊ. Epic has developed a unique process that treats and purifies wastewater to a level that's safe for human consumption. Not only does this reduce the amount of water the company uses in its brewing process, but it also helps to address the issue of drought in California.
But Itβs Not Just Boozeβ¦
In addition to the beer industry, recycled wastewater has numerous applications that can help us fight climate change. It can be used for irrigation, toilet flushing, and even industrial processes. By reducing the demand for fresh water, we can conserve this valuable resource and reduce our carbon footprint.
Of course, recycling wastewater is just one part of the solution. We also need to focus on reducing the amount of wastewater we produce in the first place. This means investing in water-efficient technologies, improving wastewater treatment infrastructure, and educating individuals and communities on the importance of water conservation.
Thankfully, there are many organizations and initiatives working towards this goal. From the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation to local community-based efforts, there's a growing movement to protect our water resources and reduce our impact on the environment.
So I guess the only question is, will you raise a (recycled wastewater) glass to this innovative solution helping us tackle climate change?
(TwoLaneBrewing on Giphy)
What Weβre Watching π₯, Reading π, and Listening to π§
Searching for more positive and informative climate content? Look no further!
In Case You Missed It π
Get your free tickets now for Playground Earth: Activating Climate Emotions, an MTV Mental Health Action Day event on May 18th in Los Angeles. This community-focused and youth-led event centers the discussion of the mental health impacts of the climate crisis with a film screening of Gen Z Mental Health: Climate Stories and clips from Overheated: The Documentary; a panel discussion on climate mental health moderated by Leah Thomas of Intersectional Environmentalist; and activation tables for mental health and climate actions.
Interested in getting involved? Email [email protected] to learn more about partnering or volunteering for the event!