Charlotte Water rallies public support for recycled water with Renew Brew craft beer
The Southeast U.S. – once considered water-rich – is facing a new reality. Recently, the region has been hit hard by record-breaking droughts, prompting communities to rethink how they manage and protect their water sources.
To meet the challenge, communities are turning to recycled water as a sustainable way to diversify and protect their water supply. Charlotte Water is helping lead the way. In partnership with local businesses and Xylem, the utility launched a pilot project to produce a bespoke beer using ultra-pure recycled water to showcase the potential of water reuse and build public support for this essential solution.
Since its launch, Renew Brew has won the hearts, minds and taste buds of Charlotte citizens. Now, the pale ale beer is headed for wider distribution on store shelves across the city. Here’s a look at the story behind Renew Brew, the local, award-winning craft beer that’s become a symbol of community innovation and spirit.
Reimagining craft beer with recycled water
It can take anywhere between four and eight gallons of water to create one gallon of beer, with much of the water discarded throughout the brewing process.
After hearing about breweries on the U.S. west coast using recycled water to make beer production more sustainable, Charlotte Water wanted to try a pilot program on their home turf.
The trailblazing utility teamed with Town Brewing, a local brewery, and Xylem to explore more water-efficient ways to produce their favorite brew. The concept for Renew Brew was born.
“Water is the foundation for a lot of what everyone does every day, and many people take it for granted,” says Jennifer Frost, Public Affairs Manager at Charlotte Water. “But when we can support a project that is popular and people want to talk about it, it’s really easy to have conversations about the value of water.”
Advanced treatment technology powers the production of QC Water
The first step in brewing Renew Brew was producing recycled water that meets the highest standards for quality and safety. Charlotte Water chose its award-winning McDowell Wastewater Treatment Plant, recognized for its advanced treatment capabilities and high effluent standards, for the job.
After the water is treated at the facility, it goes through an additional comprehensive purification process, using advanced Xylem technologies – including carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, and a combination of ozone and ultraviolet treatment.
This step, which brings the water to drinking standards, takes place in a mobile Xylem Wedeco MiPro™ and pilot plant located on-site.
The result is QC Water: recycled water that has been rigorously tested for more than 150 contaminants and treated to exceed Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards. Once testing is complete, the high-quality QC Water is transported to Town Brewing, where it’s used to produce Renew Brew.
Engaging the public one taste at a time
Brewing the beer was just the beginning. A key goal of the Renew Brew pilot was to raise public awareness and support for recycled water. To bring that vision to life, Charlotte Water joined forces with local firm Yellow Duck Marketing, alongside partners Town Brewing and Xylem.
The team designed vibrant, locally inspired packaging for the beer can that celebrates Charlotte’s community and culture, using hand-drawn elements to portray the city’s energy.
Together, the team also launched a wide-reaching social media and public relations campaign amplifying the story of recycled water, while celebrating the community spirit and partnership that brought Renew Brew to life. A bevy of tasting events and demonstrations were held locally and across the state, where the Renew Brew beer won Best in Show at the 2024 Queen City Brewers Festival.
The Renew Brew pilot has proven to be a hit with the public. To date, the Renew Brew campaign has made national and global headlines, reaching a total combined audience of 3.61 billion.
Expanding recycled water’s reach
Building on the pilot program’s success, Charlotte Water, Town Brewing, Xylem and Yellow Duck are expanding Renew Brew’s reach – bringing the power of recycled water to more people across the region.
In July 2025, Charlotte Water completed its third batch of high-quality recycled QC Water.
The initiative has also added a new partner: Lenny Boy Brewing. These latest recycled water brews will be available to the public in North Carolina at select locations and events from September 6, 2025, through October 31, 2025. A full list of local sites can be found at drinkQCwater.org.
“Renew Brew is a great example of what can happen when you challenge yourself to think outside the box,” said Brandon Stirewalt, Head of Operations at Town Brewing.
Angela Charles, Charlotte Water Director, added, “This project reflects our commitment to a circular economy, innovation and sustainability. “We are excited to showcase the endless possibilities of recycled water.”
“Innovative approaches like reuse are key to addressing water scarcity in our communities,” said Chris Thomson, Xylem’s Sr. Director, Marketing MCS Water. “We’re proud to support Charlotte Water, and our customers globally as they take on this all-important work.”
As water scarcity intensifies, Charlotte Water and its partners are setting a powerful example of how communities can turn innovation into impact.