A new wastewater treatment system being trialled at a Perth brewery could help solve a costly problem facing breweries across Western Australia, and the early results are promising.
On 17 June, representatives from the SW WA Hub, Beanstalk AgTech and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) toured a newly installed water treatment system at Spinifex Brewing, based at the Food Innovation Precinct WA (FIPWA) in Nambeelup. The system, developed by Hydroleap, is being trialled as part of the PropaGATE Innovation Challenge, which accelerates connections between agrifood businesses and innovations that improve outcomes for those businesses.
Why it matters
Like most breweries connected to the mains sewer system, Spinifex Brewing pays to have its wastewater treated based on how much it produces and how “dirty” it is. Every three months, Water Corporation tests the wastewater for things like temperature, salt levels, nutrients and biological and chemical oxidative demand (BOD & COD). If any of these exceed set limits, the brewery is charged extra, with costs adding up fast. A base rate of around $1.30 per kilolitre disposed of can balloon to more than $20 per kilolitre if several limits are breached at once.
It’s a problem common across the brewing industry, where wastewater regularly exceeds these thresholds. Left unaddressed, some brewers could eventually be barred from using the mains system altogether, forcing them to find far more expensive ways to dispose of their wastewater.
How the technology works
Hydroleap’s system treats wastewater using electrocoagulation, which is a process that uses electricity rather than harsh chemicals to clean the water. The technology can cut BOD and COD by up to 70 per cent, and remove up to 85 per cent of suspended solids. It’s also fully automated, scalable and designed to fit into existing infrastructure, making it suitable for brewery sites with limited space.
Although the system has only been running for a short time, Spinifex Brewing is already reporting improvements in meeting its wastewater discharge requirements.
A bigger goal than compliance
For Spinifex Brewing, the benefits go beyond avoiding fines. The brewery has set itself the goal of doing zero harm, and maximum good for Aboriginal communities. Cleaner wastewater output supports that goal, and the brewery is also exploring circular economy opportunities, such as returning treated water, nutrients and composted waste back onto the farmland that supplies its brewing ingredients.
Spinifex Brewing hopes its experience can act as a blueprint for the wider brewing industry, demonstrating how better wastewater management can reduce costs and environmental impact, and strengthen relationships with Water Corporation.
What’s next
The trial will continue until the end of August, after which the results will be analysed and developed into a case study to share with industry and project partners.
Spinifex Brewing, GGA/SW WA Hub and Beanstalk AgTech will present early findings from the trial at the WA Beer and Brewing Conference, held at the Esplanade in Fremantle on 3 July. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
PropaGATE is supported by the SW WA Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and the Food Innovation Precinct WA.
For further information on PropaGATE, read this recent blog post by Beanstalk AgTech or visit the project webpage.