Even though recycled wastewater is probably safer to drink than tap water; I was never fond of drinking sink water. This “ick factor” is not just a personal hurdle but a global one to its acceptance. However, in a ‘flush-and-forget society’, this preconceived disgust may disappear when turned to beer.
As rapid population growth puts strains on US water supplies in the West, Epic Cleantec now brews signature beers through recycled wastewater, which is followed by 10 breweries under the Scottsdale Water challenge. If a safe tutorial about the safe treatment of recycled water could persuade adults to sample the beers, I don’t see why this would not occur for just drinkable water. Ultimately, it reveals that our ‘ick-factor’ exists not because of the water itself but our acknowledgment of sanitation treatment.
One solution to this visibility issue is education. If people grow more aware of the ultra-purifying process, we would not be disgusted when approaching recycled wastewater. This normalization means that the “ick-factor” may no longer refrain us from drinking recycled wastewater.
The success of these beers doesn’t just broaden the opportunities for creative water reuses but marks the first step to our acceptance of recycled-waste water. If utilized more often in the long run, recycled wastewater could solve water scarcity issues caused by climate change and also ensure that everyone has access to clean water.
コメント