Tooheys Lidcombe brewery opens $7.2m reverse osmosis water recycling plant to save about 270 million litres per year

The state’s largest brewery is set to save enough water to fill 5.3 million kegs each year. Take a look inside the operation and find out how.

The $7.2m Tooheys Lidcombe brewery’s new reverse osmosis water recycling plant. Picture: Tooheys

The state’s largest brewery is set to save enough water to fill 108 Olympic-sized swimming pools each year, cutting almost $800,000 from its annual bill, with the help of a new multimillion-dollar water recycling plant.

Global beverage company Lion Group on Wednesday revealed it had opened a reverse osmosis water recycling plant at its Tooheys brewery in Lidcombe.

With the help of Sydney Water, the $7.2m project will recover up to 30 per cent of water used during the cleaning and pre-production processes, saving an estimated 270 million litres — or 5.3 million kegs worth — every year.

Lion Group chief executive Sam Fischer said the plant was an “investment towards more sustainable beer and setting a benchmark for Australian brewers”.

“While Lion is proud of our position as Australasia’s first large-scale carbon neutral brewer, we are constantly looking at what more we can do to reduce our impact on the environment and do the right thing for the long term,” he said.

It is estimated the plant will save 270 million litres of water per year. Picture: Tooheys

“Water is one of the biggest inputs to brewing beer.”

The new Sydney system follows the “success” of Lion’s reverse osmosis water recycling plant at the XXXX brewery, which was built in Brisbane back in 2009 and which has saved an average of 282 million litres of water every year.

Inside the water recycling plant. Picture: Tooheys

“We thought it is only fair to create one for Tooheys drinkers,” Mr Fischer said.

“We have an ongoing commitment to sustainability and are focused on investing in practical measures that reduce water consumption, help decarbonise the brewing process and drive the circular economy to reduce waste.”

Sydney Water’s head of customer contact, Dan Peacock, declared the organisation was “proud to have played a significant role” in bringing the plant to life.

“By implementing a unique way to recycle water, it allows Tooheys to save 270 million litres per year of water, and significantly reduces their water bill by approximately $720,900 annually,” Mr Peacock said.

Tooheys workers at the plant. Picture: Sydney Water

“Non-residential customers, like Tooheys, use about 22 per cent of all drinking water in Sydney. So this project is a pivotal, sustainable step forward, demonstrating how much water can be saved through a committed water conservation program.”

Mr Peacock said companies that embraced these practices were demonstrating how “large-scale businesses” could make a substantial difference in reducing water waste and protecting resources.

“This partnership is just one example of how businesses can work with Sydney Water to meet environmental goals and conserve water,” he said.

“Every drop of water is precious, especially as we face ongoing challenges in water resilience, so we are really pleased to have supported this innovative project.”

The Lion Group previously became “a certified carbon neutral” organisation and has been procuring 100 per cent renewable electricity for its operations since January last year.