NewBrew is a particular beer that might turn people’s noses up: it is in fact produced with water recycled from sewers and the aim is precisely this, to raise awareness of the importance of water recycling
At COP29 the climate conference taking place in Baku, Singapore, attracted attention with a beer really unusual: NewBrewproduced with water recycled from sewers. Behind this choice there is a precise strategy: to raise public awareness aboutimportance of water recyclingespecially in an era where water scarcity is a global challenge.
The Asian city-state, known for the efficiency of its environmental policies, has been facing the problem of limited availability of fresh water. Singapore, densely populated and lacking in natural resources, depends largely on imports from Malaysia and desalination.
To reduce this vulnerability, it has invested in advanced technologies such as process NEWatera system that transforms wastewater into drinkable water through microfiltration, reverse osmosis and disinfection with ultraviolet rays.
How the production process occurs
The beer NewBrewwhich we already told you about, was born in 2018 from the collaboration between the Singapore Water Resources Agency (PUB) and the craft brewery Brewerkz. Its production uses water treated with the system NEWaterensuring a safe and compliant result of the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Mitch Gribov, director of Brewerkz, this neutral tasting water is perfect for beer.
The process, the result of decades of research and innovation, involves three main phases: the microfiltration to eliminate solid impurities, reverse osmosis to remove smaller contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria and finally the sterilization with ultraviolet rays.
Although arousing curiosity and some doubts, NewBrew ha met with successquickly running out of stock in Singapore restaurants. It is a beer that does not just focus on taste: its main objective is break down the stigma surrounding wastewater reuse. It promotes a clear and necessary message: treated water is nothing more than water and it can be a sustainable solution to drought problems.
Water recycling technologies are not unique to Singapore. Countries such as Germany, the United States and Canada are experimenting with similar systems to deal with water crises. However, Singapore remains a model to follow, thanks to its ability to integrate these technologies into environmental policies and daily life.
The beer NewBrew it therefore represents a symbol of innovation and commitment towards a sustainable future. More than a simple experiment, it is an invitation to rethink our relationship with natural resourcesshowing how even waste can become a precious resource.
