Brewery wastewater challenges in Starnberg: Insights into the plant's management methods
In the picturesque town of Starnberg, a long-standing project by the Starnberg Brewery is facing significant hurdles due to concerns over water capacity and wastewater treatment.
The brewery, currently operating at the Wieling site, produces around 40,000 hectolitres of beer annually, but its expansion plans have been halted due to restricted water availability. To accommodate growth, a 41,000 square metre industrial site in Schorn was acquired to build a second brewery with its own bottling line. However, local authorities have raised concerns about Schorn’s insufficient wastewater capacity, putting the project on indefinite hold.
During a tour organised by the Green local branch, wastewater manager Markus Huberth expressed his concerns. He suggested that the brewery's expansion could exceed the capacity of the sewage treatment plant and the water supply infrastructure. The sewage treatment plant in Schlosshoelzl, which has been in operation for over 50 years, is currently designed to handle the wastewater from 100,000 population equivalents.
The high nitrogen load of the wastewater and the amount of drinking water needed for beer production could be potential sticking points. Huberth suspects that the brewery in Wieling is responsible for the high nitrogen load, but this needs to be precisely examined.
The Krombacher Group, the majority owner of the Starnberg Brewery, has proposed a solution to this issue. They have offered to financially support the expansion of the wastewater infrastructure, suggesting the construction of a more powerful sewer and a pumping station at their own expense in Schorn.
Despite these challenges, the brewery remains optimistic due to strong demand in hospitality and expansion plans elsewhere. However, the Schorn site’s infrastructure limitations remain the primary hurdle. The Starnberg Lake Sewage Association reports that a lot has been happening behind the scenes regarding the brewery's plans, but a general drainage plan for their area has yet to be drawn up.
The latest statement from the brewery, via a spokesperson, was "no new developments". The Starnberg Brewery in Schorn is planning to establish a new production site, a project that has been in discussions with city officials for years. The original Wieling site and its 15 employees will be retained to maintain current production.
[1] Starnberger See Abwasser Verein (2021). Starnberg Brewery Expansion Plans: Water Capacity Concerns. Retrieved from [link] [2] Green Local Branch (2021). Tour of Wastewater Treatment Plant Reveals Concerns over Starnberg Brewery Expansion. Retrieved from [link]
- The expansion plan for the Starnberg Brewery attracts attention in the environmental-science field as the industrial site in Schorn's insufficient wastewater capacity may pose a challenge.
- To mitigate potential impacts on the environment and local infrastructure, financial support from the Krombacher Group, the majority owner of the Starnberg Brewery, has been proposed to address the expansion of the wastewater infrastructure.
- Business growth in the form of beer production at the proposed Schorn site could conflict with current water and wastewater capacity, creating a financial opportunity for the industry to invest and help the environment by upgrading the sewage treatment plant and infrastructure.
