Cambrian, a water treatment technology company, and Anheuser-Busch have been named finalists for the 2025 Global Water Awards' Industrial Project of the Year for their innovative water reuse collaboration at the Houston brewery.
The project introduces a first-of-its-kind Water-Energy Purchase Agreement (WEPA) that enables large-scale water reuse without requiring upfront capital investment from Anheuser-Busch. The modular treatment system processes up to 400,000 gallons of high-strength wastewater daily, converting effluent into EPA-quality water for non-potable reuse.
Over the 20-year contract, the system is expected to treat 3.45 billion gallons of water while delivering significant environmental and economic benefits. The project will reduce water and wastewater costs by 20% and avoid more than 23,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to removing over 260 cars from the road annually.
Cambrian finances, builds, owns, and operates the system, charging only by the gallon treated. This approach alleviates capital and maintenance burdens for Anheuser-Busch while ensuring operational excellence through on-site specialized personnel.
The partnership originated through the 100+ Accelerator sustainability innovation platform in 2019 and utilizes Cambrian's BlueCycle™ membrane bioreactor technology. By demonstrating that environmental sustainability can align with economic advantages, the project represents a potential model for future industrial water management strategies.
