Originally published in Water Technology Magazine
Joshua Tree, Calif., is known for the stark desert beauty of its namesake national park and U.S. Marine Corps base at nearby 29 Palms. The town of 10,000 is a “craft beer desert,” with the nearest brewpub located over 50 miles away. Joshua Tree Brewery recognized the opportunity to serve the community and expand its popular beers from garage to a physical taproom but had to overcome challenges related to setting up an on-site wastewater treatment system to comply with state, county, and local discharge requirements. Working with Aquacycl, a wastewater technology startup, the brewery was able to demonstrate a cost-effective way to treat its wastewater to irrigation standards.