Scottsdale Water Executive Director Brian Biesemeyer joined industry experts on Monday in a panel discussion about the future of recycled water in Arizona. The panel was hosted by the Arizona Republic at Desert Monks Brewing in Gilbert. 

The discussion was moderated by the Arizona Republic and included panelists: 

• Troy Hayes, Phoenix water director
• Brian Biesemeyer, Scottsdale Water executive director
• Randall Matas, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality water division deputy director
• Arturo Ruiz, lead brewer at Desert Monks Brewing 

“This was a great opportunity to discuss Scottsdale’s long history of recycling water and how recycled water will continue to be essential in enabling Scottsdale to grow in a sustainable manner,” Biesemeyer said.

Guests had the chance to sample water from Scottsdale’s Advanced Water Treatment Facility and purchase six-packs of “Immaculate Fermentation,” the pale ale Desert Monks Brewing created for the 2023 One Water Brewing Showcase.  

The showcase drew crowds Nov. 3 and 4 as part of Scottsdale’s Canal Convergence — an annual festival of interactive light-based artworks along the Scottsdale Waterfront. The event served as an opportunity for guests to learn more about the advanced water purification process and sample beers crafted by eight local breweries using Scottsdale’s recycled water. 

The Scottsdale Water Campus is home to one of the most sophisticated recycled water facilities in the world and the first permanent facility in Arizona – and only the third in the nation – permitted as a pilot program for advanced water purification. 

The city’s Advanced Water Treatment Facility is one of the largest potable water purification facilities in the world and can treat up to 20 million gallons of recycled water a day to a water quality standard that exceeds that of bottled water.  

While recycled water is not currently used in Scottsdale’s drinking water system, it is considered a valuable, sustainable water source for the future. In November, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality released an Advanced Water Purification Proposed Program Roadmap, highlighting goals and standards for the use of recycled water statewide. 

Learn more about Advanced Water Purification in Scottsdale: ScottsdaleAZ.gov/water/recycled-water 

See photos from the event, courtesy Arizona Republic: Scottsdale.canto.com/b/U4V63