06/23/2026
We're honored that Charlotte Water has received the Innovation Award for Renew Brew from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) at this year's ACE26 Conference, the water industry's premier annual conference. The award recognizes programs that advance the water profession through creativity, leadership, and forward-thinking solutions.
Created in partnership with Town Brewing, Xylem and Yellow Duck Marketing, Renew Brew transformed highly purified recycled water, QC Water, into the first beer demonstration project of its kind in the Carolinas. But this project was always about much more than beer. It was about starting conversations, challenging perceptions, and showing what's possible when innovation, sustainability and community partnerships come together. Since launching in 2024, Renew Brew has sparked national attention, earned Best in Show at the Queen City Brewers Festival, and helped thousands of people think differently about water reuse and the future of sustainable water supplies. This recognition belongs to every partner who believed in the idea and helped bring it to life. Together, we're proving that some of the best innovations don't just solve problems, they inspire new conversations.
