What Wastewater Do Breweries Generate?

During the brewing process, various types of waste are generated. These include:

• Organic matter: spent grains, yeast and hops in both liquid and solid forms are released throughout key stages such as mashing, fermentation, lautering and filtration. These materials contribute to high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) when they enter wastewater systems, which can reduce oxygen levels in receiving watercourses if left untreated.
• Chemicals: cleaning agents and sanitisers are used extensively to maintain hygiene standards, disinfect equipment and prevent microbial contamination. These substances often include caustic solutions, acids, surfactants and chlorine-based products, all of which can pose hazards to drainage infrastructure and aquatic life if discharged improperly.
• Sugars and ethanol: residual fermentable sugars and alcohol are flushed out during vessel cleaning and product transfer. These compounds not only raise the BOD and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in effluent but can also create odours and contribute to the growth of undesirable microorganisms in drainage systems.

Why is it Important to Treat Brewery Wastewater?

A brewery operation’s wastewater must be treated before it can leave the brewery, unless it is collected and managed by a licensed carrier. The reasons why water treatment is important include:

• Protecting public health: untreated effluent can enter local watercourses and groundwater, leading to contamination of drinking water supplies. High levels of organic material, ethanol and cleaning chemicals reduce oxygen in waterways and can harm aquatic life through toxicity and eutrophication.
• Meeting environmental and health standards: environmental legislation requires breweries to handle wastewater in line with water quality regulations and health and safety guidelines. These rules apply to the collection, storage, transport and disposal of wastewater to prevent uncontrolled discharges and maintain a safe working environment.
• Remaining within discharge limits: wastewater must meet strict parameters before entering public sewers or treatment facilities. Discharge limits cover factors such as pH, COD, suspended solids and solvent residues. Consistent treatment enables breweries to remain within authorised thresholds and avoid penalties.
• Protecting aquatic life and ecosystems: brewery wastewater contains organic matter, ethanol, cleaning chemicals and suspended solids that can lower oxygen levels in watercourses, disrupt natural microbial activity and damage aquatic habitats. By-products such as hydrogen sulphide can be toxic to fish and invertebrates, while contaminants may infiltrate surrounding soils and harm plants and wildlife. Controlled treatment prevents long-term damage to ecosystems and helps maintain the balance of local environments.

What Is the Process of Treating Wastewater?

Treating wastewater involves a series of controlled stages that separate solids, break down contaminants and produce a cleaner effluent suitable for discharge or further handling:

• Removal of heavy solids: large and dense particles settle out in the initial stage. This reduces the volume of material requiring further treatment and helps protect downstream equipment from blockages or abrasion.
• Removal of lighter solids and chemical treatment: finer suspended solids are extracted through screening and chemical dosing. Coagulants or flocculants are added to bind small particles together, making them easier to remove in subsequent processes.
• Dissolved air flotation: the wastewater is pressurised with air before being released at atmospheric pressure. Air bubbles attach to small particles, lifting them to the surface where they form a layer of foam that can be skimmed off efficiently.
• Clarification: a clarifier further separates settled sludge from the liquid stream, improving clarity and reducing the load on biological treatment systems.
• Fixed bed reactor: the clarified water passes through a reactor filled with media. Microorganisms grow on these surfaces and break down dissolved organic pollutants, reducing the BOD of the effluent.

Many brewers will then use a combination of biological processes to complete the treatment:

• Anaerobic digestion: microorganisms decompose organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This reduces sludge volume and generates biogas, which can be captured for energy recovery or safe disposal.
• Aerobic treatment: in oxygen-rich conditions, microorganisms break down remaining contaminants, further improving water quality before discharge.
• Membrane filtration: the treated water passes through a semi-permeable membrane to remove fine solids, bacteria and dissolved impurities, producing a high-quality effluent.

If you plan on discharging waste directly into a watercourse or the sewers rather than sending it to a wastewater treatment plant, you must still comply with all relevant regulations covering storage, handling and disposal. Even if you have treated the wastewater on site, an environmental permit is required, and all discharge activities must meet strict legal standards. Compliant management of wastewater can be difficult and expensive to handle on-site, which is why using a licensed wastewater handler is recommended. 

Brewery Wastewater Disposal Regulations

Brewery wastewater must be managed in line with established regulations and recorded properly to avoid environmental harm and legal penalties. 

You must prepare a waste transfer note for every load of wastewater leaving your site, which records details of the waste, quantities and the licensed carrier responsible for collection. It helps to make sure you only use carriers who hold the correct licences to transport and dispose of wastewater. Providers such as Universal Tankers operate to recognised standards, including FORS accreditation. The legislation that governs the disposal of wastewater and the relevant regulations include:

• The Water Resources Act 1991 and the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 require an environmental permit if wastewater is discharged to surface water, groundwater or stored and treated on site. These permits define limits for discharge quality, monitoring and reporting.
• A trade effluent consent under the Water Industry Act 1991 is necessary if you release wastewater to the public sewer. This consent sets specific thresholds for solids, oils, detergents and flow rates.
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and COSHH Regulations 2002 place duties on businesses to assess and control health and safety risks from chemical residues, gases and biological hazards linked to wastewater handling.
• The Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets further requirements for managing sludge, by-products and contamination risks to prevent statutory nuisance and pollution.
• The EU’s Water Framework Directive, implemented in UK law after Brexit, establishes objectives to protect water quality and maintain the ecological health of receiving water bodies.

Failing to comply can lead to fines, legal action and imprisonment. Appointing a reputable, licensed carrier such as Universal Tankers helps breweries meet these obligations and dispose of wastewater safely.

How Universal Tankers Can Help You Meet Your Brewery Wastewater Obligations

If your business is brewing beer and you are looking for an experienced, well-trusted operator to manage your wastewater disposal, Universal Tankers delivers a complete solution for handling brewery wastewater and by-products.

• Regulation-compliant disposal: we collect, transport and dispose of wastewater in line with all applicable UK regulations, helping you operate confidently within legal requirements.
• Accredited operations: our services are accredited to the highest industry standards, including Achilles, SafeContractor, Constructionline Gold and FORS, reflecting our commitment to safety, quality and environmental responsibility.
• Nationwide reach: with 19 depots across England and Scotland, we provide responsive, next day collection anywhere in England and Scotland.
• By-product management: we collect and dispose of kieselguhr sludge, spent grains and yeast surplus produced during brewing. Our team manages these materials safely and securely, using approved methods that reduce contamination risk and support sustainability. Where possible, we work with partners to recycle by-products into useful resources such as animal feed and fertilisers. All processes are carried out in compliance with UK environmental law, protecting your business from fines and legal issues.
• Customised service plans: we design tailored collection schedules and disposal arrangements to match your production volumes and operational requirements.
• Drain jetting: our drain jetting services clear blockages, clean brewing equipment and maintain free-flowing drainage systems, minimising downtime and protecting infrastructure.

Whether you need scheduled collections or an emergency response, Universal Tankers provides a cost-effective reliable service that keeps your brewery compliant and operating efficiently.