There is a lot of talk out there about going green and different ways to do it, whether that is installing a solar array or bicycling to work. One of the less talked about things is water usage, which can be just as important. This is especially important in the brewing process, which is very water intensive, and its more than just the water in your beer. It is also the water used for cleaning, cooling, and steam production. Given the need to reduce water usage, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced yesterday its plans to reduce water usage by 30% by 2012.

By meeting this goal, the company says it could fill 25,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools with saved water. Based on American Water Works Association statistics, that’s also enough to meet one year’s indoor water needs for more than half a million U.S. residents living in typical single-family homes.

Although they are planning on using some pretty low-tech methods in most of their breweries, it has already started to show results in places like Cartersville, GA. In the recent three year drought experienced in the south, AB InBev drastically reduced water usage by recycling cooling and cleaning water and has already cut usage below their 2012 goal. The full article is over at the New York Times.

What really got to me is when the article mentioned 1.1 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. This is often viewed as a shortage problem, though it has equally as much to do with distribution, especially in rural areas. Given that staggering statistic, next time to sit down for a frothy cool beverage, don’t take it for granted and be thankful that we are able to drink fine craft beers.