Case study
Lagunitas Brewing Company: Pioneer Craft Brewer Transforms Wastewater Management Across Two Major Facilities
The Challenge
As one of America’s fastest-growing craft breweries, Lagunitas Brewing Company faced mounting pressure from its wastewater streams. At the flagship Petaluma facility in California, the brewery was trucking 50,000 gallons per day of high-strength wastewater to a treatment facility 50 miles away—requiring over 3,000 truck trips annually. This expensive, unsustainable practice was costing the brewery tens of thousands of dollars in hauling fees while creating a massive carbon footprint.
With plans to expand production capacity and open a second major brewery in Azusa, California, Lagunitas needed a transformative solution that could handle increasing wastewater volumes while supporting the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and operational efficiency.
The Solution
In 2013, Lagunitas implemented an innovative onsite wastewater treatment and water reuse system at its Petaluma brewery. This groundbreaking installation transformed the brewery’s approach to water management, converting wastewater from a costly disposal problem into a valuable resource.
The system employed advanced membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology combined with bioelectrically enhanced treatment to handle the brewery’s high-strength wastewater. This dual approach not only treated wastewater to reuse quality but also generated renewable energy in the form of biogas, heat, and electricity—creating a closed-loop system that recovered both water and energy resources.
Petaluma Facility Success (2013-2019)
The Petaluma installation delivered immediate and dramatic results:
- Eliminated all wastewater trucking, saving over 3,000 truck trips annually
- Treated over 60 million gallons of wastewater by 2019
- Produced over 20 million gallons of reuse-quality water
- Achieved 70% wastewater reuse rate onsite
- Reduced total onsite water consumption by 40%
- Generated renewable energy for brewery operations
Azusa Facility Innovation (2016-2018)
Building on the Petaluma success, Lagunitas designed its new Azusa brewery from the ground up with water efficiency as a core principle. The facility, which opened in early 2018 with capacity to produce over one million barrels annually, incorporated even more advanced water treatment and resource recovery capabilities:
- 300,000 gallons per day of recycled water production (109.5 million gallons annually)
- 2.3 million kWh per year of renewable electricity generation
- 130,000 therms per year of renewable heat production
- Achieved a 2:1 water-to-beer ratio, making it one of the most water-efficient breweries in the world
- Projected lifecycle savings of $22.5 million in water, wastewater, and energy costs
Results and Impact
Environmental Impact
Lagunitas’s water reuse and resource recovery systems have transformed the brewery’s environmental footprint:
Water Recycling
130M+ Gallons
Reuse-quality water produced annually across both facilities
Carbon Reduction
3,000+ Diesel truck trips eliminated
Annual reduction in CO2 emissions
Renewable Energy
Millions of kWh
Clean electricity generated from wastewater
Municipal Relief
Reduced train on public water systems
Benefits for both Petaluma and Azusa
Operational Benefits
Massive cost savings
Eliminated expensive wastewater trucking and disposal fees while reducing water purchase and sewer discharge costs
Energy independence
Generated significant renewable energy onsite, offsetting utility costs and stabilizing operational expenses
Scalable infrastructure
Built modular systems that can expand with production growth
Operational control
Gained real-time monitoring and management of wastewater treatment operations
Drought resilience
Reduced dependence on municipal water supplies during California’s historic droughts
Industry Leadership
Lagunitas’s commitment to water sustainability has positioned the brewery as an industry leader:
Pioneer status
Among the first major craft breweries to implement comprehensive onsite water reuse
Proof of concept
Demonstrated that large-scale brewery water reuse is both technically feasible and economically viable
Community stewardship
Protected local water resources in both Petaluma and Azusa communities
Brand enhancement
Strengthened reputation among environmentally conscious consumers and business partners
Key Takeaways
Lagunitas Brewing Company’s journey demonstrates that breweries of all sizes can transform wastewater from an operational burden into a valuable resource. The company’s success across two major facilities proves that:
- Onsite water treatment and reuse is economically justified through eliminated trucking costs, reduced utility expenses, and renewable energy generation
- Advanced treatment technologies can handle even high-strength brewery wastewater while producing high-quality recycled water
- Water efficiency can be designed into new facilities from the ground up, achieving world-class performance levels
- Resource recovery systems create multiple revenue streams while reducing environmental impact
- Sustainability investments strengthen brand value and community relationships
“Lagunitas is committed to being a good steward of the Petaluma community and our natural resources. Our partnership ensures our brewery doesn’t overstress the public water system. We strive to bring the best systems possible to achieve our sustainability goals.”
— Maria Stipp, CEO, Lagunitas Brewing Company
Start Your Journey Toward Sustainable Water Solutions
Inspired by Lagunitas Brewing Company’s success? Contact us today to learn how Water Champions can help your business achieve water efficiency, reduce costs, and implement sustainable solutions that optimize your operations.