Epic Cleantec Recycled Water Beer: From Shower Drain to Cold IPA

Would you drink a beer if you knew it was made from recycled shower water? San Francisco-based startup Epic Cleantec is betting that you will. By turning treated wastewater into craft beer, they aren't just brewing drinks; they're overhauling the psychology of water scarcity.

Epic Cleantec Recycled Water Beer and the New Urban Ecology

Founded in 2015, Epic Cleantec focuses on onsite water recycling systems for high-rise buildings. Their proprietary technology captures graywater from showers and laundry, putting it through rigorous treatment steps including reverse osmosis and UV disinfection. The resulting high-quality water is then sent to Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. to create labels like 'Shower Hour IPA'.

CEO Aaron Tartakovsky believes the product bridges a crucial gap. While buildings use about 15% of the planet's fresh water, public distrust in recycled water remains high. "You put those exact same molecules into a beautiful beer can, and all of a sudden, people love it," Tartakovsky noted during a recent briefing.

Funding and Market Expansion

The company has raised $25 million to date, backed by investors like J-Ventures and Echo River Capital. Their beer is now available for online orders in over a dozen states, including California and Virginia. Given that it takes 10 gallons of water to produce just 1 gallon of beer, the environmental upside of using recycled sources is substantial.