A pioneering water treatment partnership between Cambrian and Anheuser-Busch has earned recognition at the upcoming 2025 Global Water Awards, highlighting an innovative approach to industrial water sustainability. The project, centered at Anheuser-Busch's Houston brewery, represents a significant advancement in water reuse technology and infrastructure financing.
The collaborative effort introduces a novel Water-Energy Purchase Agreement (WEPA) model that enables large-scale water reuse without requiring upfront capital investment from the brewery. Cambrian designed, financed, and now operates a modular treatment system capable of processing 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 projected to treat 3.45 billion gallons of water while delivering substantial environmental and economic benefits. The project is expected to reduce water and wastewater costs by 20% and avoid more than 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to removing over 260 cars from the road annually.
This innovative approach addresses critical challenges in industrial water management by aligning environmental sustainability with economic efficiency. By embedding specialized personnel on-site and assuming operational responsibilities, Cambrian eliminates capital and maintenance burdens for Anheuser-Busch while ensuring operational excellence.
The partnership originated through the 100+ Accelerator, a global sustainability innovation platform, and leverages Cambrian's BlueCycle™ membrane bioreactor technology. The project demonstrates a forward-thinking model where environmental stewardship directly correlates with financial performance, potentially serving as a blueprint for other industrial water management strategies.
Nomination for the Global Water Awards' Industrial Project of the Year underscores the significance of this collaborative approach. The award, presented by Global Water Intelligence, recognizes projects making substantial contributions to water sustainability in the industrial sector.
As water scarcity and environmental concerns continue to challenge global industries, this project offers a compelling model of how technological innovation and strategic partnerships can simultaneously address ecological and economic objectives. By reimagining water infrastructure delivery, Cambrian and Anheuser-Busch are pioneering a more sustainable approach to industrial water management.
