BOSTON, April 25, 2025 – Cambrian, a leading provider of turnkey wastewater treatment, water reuse, and energy recovery-as-a-service, announced that its project with Anheuser-Busch has been named a finalist for the 2025 Global Water Awards’ Industrial Project of the Year. The award will be presented at the Global Water Summit, to be held May 12–14, 2025, in Paris, France.
The nomination recognizes a first-of-its-kind achievement: the deployment of Cambrian’s Water-Energy Purchase Agreement (WEPA) model as the first water reuse-as-a-service contract ever signed by Anheuser-Busch. This groundbreaking project at the company’s Houston brewery enables large-scale water reuse with no upfront capital investment, delivering operational savings alongside measurable environmental benefits.
Under the WEPA model, Cambrian designed, financed, installed, and now operates a modular treatment system that processes up to 400,000 gallons of high-strength wastewater per day, converting effluent into EPA-quality water for non-potable reuse. The system is expected to treat 3.45 billion gallons over the 20-year contract term, while reducing water and wastewater costs by 20% and avoiding more than 23,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.
“This project represents a true innovation, not only in water technology, but in how we deliver infrastructure,” said Matthew Silver, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Cambrian. “By combining advanced treatment with an aligned, performance-based business model, we’ve created a win-win for Anheuser-Busch, lower pollution, reduced water use, and decreased costs, all without the burden of capital investment or operational risk. This is the future of sustainable water management.”
Anheuser-Busch has been working with Cambrian since 2019, following a successful pilot through its 100+ Accelerator, a global sustainability innovation platform. In 2022, the companies launched the Houston project, which features Cambrian’s BlueCycle™ membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. The treatment system is delivered via Cambrian’s WEPA model, under which Cambrian finances, builds, owns, and operates the system, charging only by the gallon treated.
“Following a successful pilot through our 100+ Accelerator, we are very excited to continue to invest in the growth of this innovative team by implementing this advanced technology at our Houston brewery where we first installed wastewater treatment more than 24 years ago,” said Angie Slaughter, Vice President of Sustainability Procurement at Anheuser-Busch. “At Anheuser-Busch, we are always challenging ourselves to dream big when it comes to our sustainability efforts and our work with Cambrian highlights the power of partnership in bringing scale to solutions that accelerate the circular economy.”
In addition to its water reuse impact, the project is expected to eliminate 1,230 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, the equivalent of removing more than 260 cars from the road. The model also ensures ongoing operational excellence by embedding specialized Cambrian personnel on-site, while alleviating the capital and maintenance burden for Anheuser-Busch.
“The sophistication we’ve reached with this technology is exciting. The quality of water that can be delivered with radically lower energy use is astounding,” said Edward Norton, Cambrian board member and sustainability advocate. “But what’s actually most significant here is that Anheuser-Busch and Cambrian are demonstrating that what’s best for the environment and the community is also the best economic option for a major corporation from a pure balance sheet perspective. A more sustainable water strategy results in a more profitable company. That alignment is going to really drive positive change.”
The Global Water Awards, presented by Global Water Intelligence, celebrate the most important achievements in the international water industry each year. The Industrial Project of the Year category honors the project that has made the most significant contribution to water sustainability in the industrial sector.
For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Cambrian is a leader in commercial and industrial water-reuse and energy-recovery as a service. Leveraging its award winning, proprietary product suite, Cambrian provides turnkey wastewater treatment solutions that minimize life cycle and operating costs. With its flagship Water-Energy Purchase Agreement (WEPA) model, Cambrian will design, construct, install, own, and operate the water treatment system, charging only by the gallon treated or kilowatt hour generated —allowing customers to focus on their core businesses while realizing the multiple cost and environmental benefits of efficient water management. Founded out of MIT over a decade ago, Cambrian has implemented solutions with world renowned brands in food, beverage, and lifestyle resort industries, including Anheuser-Busch, Sapporo, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, and Discovery Land. The company has been highlighted as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, a World Economic Forum Global Circular Economy Leader, and Top 50 Emerging Global Water Company. For more information, visit www.cambrianinnovation.com
