One of the most effective strategies for increasing water efficiency is to capture and reuse water rather than discharge it as wastewater. MillerCoors is taking a fresh look at resuing water as a potential source, rather than using fresh water in-non product applications.*

Treating Wastewater

When we do discharge wastewater, we do so carefully in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations to minimize effects on the environment. One key example is at our Virginia brewery, located on the banks of the Shenandoah River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a historic program to restore water quality in the Bay, and we are doing our part.

In 2010, we completed the installation of a $10 million membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment process that combines filtration with a biologically active environment to take phosphorus and nitrogen out of the brewery’s wastewater. MBR provides treatment at the limits of current technology for nutrient reduction.  It is a proactive and appropriate solution for treating water that is discharged into environmentally sensitive areas such as coastal estuaries and their tributaries.

MillerCoors is now operating one of the largest industrial installations of MBR technology in the U.S., providing a model for other companies in the region.

*We do not reuse water as an ingredient in our beer or in any area where it would come into contact with our products.