Vermont has the most breweries per capita. But the more beer they brew, the more they have to deal with their wastewater.

Caleb Henderson of Winooski asked us this: “Breweries and cideries were in the news a few years ago for the wastewater. How are they mitigating their waste now? Has it improved?”

Reporter Howard Weiss-Tisman learns how breweries — and communities — are grappling with this issue in different ways. And in many respects, Vermont is ahead of the curve.

To see photos from Howard’s reporting and find a transcript of this episode, check out our web feature.

Howard Weiss-Tisman reported this episode, and Angela Evancie produced it, with research and studio help from Mae Nagusky. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane, Mae Nagusky and Angela Evancie, with additional help from Myra Flynn. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to the crew at the Richmond wastewater plant, the Vermont Brewers Association and Lui Schmit.

Disclosure: A lot of the folks Howard talked to and mentioned in this episode either are or have been Vermont Public or BLS underwriters, including The Alchemist, Switchback, Citizen Cider and the Agency of Natural Resources, which houses the Department of Environmental Conservation. And Lawson’s Finest Liquids, which also brews a beer named after our show that helps support our station.

As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public.