--- description: Oregon Environmental Quality Commission approves plan for beer made from recycled sewage water title: Beer Made from Sewage Water Approved by Oregon Regulators image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Oregon Regulators Approve Plans to Make Beer Out of Sewage Water  by [Olivia B. Waxman](/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Staff Writer Apr 17, 2015 6:36 PM CUT  by [Olivia B. Waxman](/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Staff Writer Apr 17, 2015 6:36 PM CUT The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission recently approved the use of recycled sewage water to brew beer, the Oregon Public Broadcasting’s environmental news organization EarthFix [reports](http://www.opb.org/news/article/wastewater-beer-wins-oregon-regulators-approval/ "undefined"). Brewed via a purification process [developed](http://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/0415itemdattachments.pdf "undefined") by Oregon’s Clean Water Services, the beer would not be available for commercial or retail use, and the finished product would still need to undergo tests to make sure it is safe to drink. And it won’t be on tap at any bars. It would only be served at tasting events hosted by its manufacturers, the home brewing club Oregon Brew Crew, and other water professional society functions. In 2014, Oregon’s Clean Water services hosted a brewing competition to challenge beer enthusiasts to make beer out of “30 percent purified wastewater,” [according to](http://www.opb.org/news/article/wastewater-beer-wins-oregon-regulators-approval/ "undefined") EarthFix. Overall, the point of developing this beer is to encourage innovative uses of the wastewater and spark a nationwide conversation about conserving water in creative ways in the midst of news about severe water shortages along the West Coast, a spokesperson for Clean Water Services [told the news outlet](http://www.opb.org/news/article/wastewater-beer-wins-oregon-regulators-approval/ "undefined"). ### PHOTOS: This Astronaut's Images of Earth Look Like Beautiful Abstract Paintings  "Harsh land. Windswept valleys in northern #Africa"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 6, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA  "Land use in South Africa, you can see where water is."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 9, 2014. Alexander Gerst—ESA  "Irrigation in the #Sahara #Desert looks like a challenging task from up here... #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 28, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA  "An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA  "An open history book of our planet: the # Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA  "Close-up of gigantic Salar of Uyuni in Bolivia. You can even see the salt fields and the 'Cactus Island'."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 15, 2014. Alexander Gerst—ESA  "The #Moon was still behind the horizon. A #FataMorgana of atmospherical refraction #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 14, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA  "When I took this photo, I was sure these are clouds. But now I'm not so sure... #BlueDot"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 7, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA  "Probably a river in Kazakhstan or slightly west of it."—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 29, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA/SIPA USA  "An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 26, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA  "Human-made fires in East Africa. Can you spot them?"—Alexander Gerst via Twitter on July 9, 2014 Alexander Gerst—ESA ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3826886/oregon-sewage-water-beer/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3826886/oregon-sewage-water-beer/"},"headline":"Oregon Regulators Approve Plans to Make Beer Out of Sewage Water","datePublished":"2015-04-17T18:36:19.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:47:44.153Z","description":"Not available in bars...yet","url":"https://time.com/3826886/oregon-sewage-water-beer/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Food & Drink"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Olivia B. 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