The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department received the Project of the Year award from the AZ Water Association. 

The AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge was designed to help educate the public on reclaimed water use as a sustainable water source to brew beer, according to the county. The project involved a team from Pima County that built a mobile reuse treatment facility that traveled across the state. The reclaimed water was then used by over two dozen local breweries for their brewing process.

“I believe the best part of this entire effort was the collaboration and innovative thinking that it fostered,” Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation director Jeff Prevatt said in a statement. 

According to the county, the project involved treated over 80,000 gallons of recycled community wastewater. The water went through a five-step purification process which removed all contaminants. 

Brewers from Tucson, Yuma, Prescott, Flagstaff, Sedona and the Phoenix area took part in the challenge. 

“Being able to interact with citizens throughout the state and discuss Arizona’s future was a remarkable experience," Prevatt said.