Solving Six Harbors Brewing Company’s Wastewater Treatment Challenge with Above-Floor Drain Pump
Long Island-based brewing company collaborates with its manufacturing partner, SmartBrew, to implement a new commercial duplex drain pump in its automated brewing system to dispose of the residue created by the brewing process.
Six Harbors Brewing Company Upgrades Wastewater Management with a Commercial Duplex Drain Pump
Long Island-based brewing company collaborates with its manufacturing partner, SmartBrew, to implement a new commercial duplex drain pump in its automated brewing system to dispose of the residue created by the brewing process.
Problem
HUNTINGTON VILLAGE, NY — Six Harbors Brewing Company is a family-owned and operated brewery that opened in May 2018. Located in one of Long Island’s most vibrant coastal towns, it is the first and only microbrewery in Huntington.
Known for its wide variety of beer styles and welcoming nautical-industrial atmosphere, Six Harbors has become a neighborhood favorite. Owners Mark and Karen Heuwetter wanted to create a brewery that felt both local and distinctive.
To operate its brewing system, Six Harbors works closely with its manufacturing partner, SmartBrew. SmartBrew developed a fully automated brewing and fermenting system designed to simplify the brewing process.
According to Brian Watson, SmartBrew’s president and founder, the system is designed to remove barriers to entry for hospitality owners.
“The main goal for SmartBrew is to make it easier for hospitality owners worldwide to enter the brewing industry,” explains Watson. “With the ability to brew on-site, owners can enhance their offerings and increase revenue.”
Founded in Canada in 2011, SmartBrew has grown steadily and now operates nearly 100 installations worldwide, including locations in:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- The Caribbean
- The United States
- Canada
The SmartBrew system automates the brewing process using water, liquid malt, and customized High Gravity Wort recipes. With the push of a button, the system manages brewing and fermenting, allowing operators to focus on taste and quality.
After implementing the SmartBrew system, Six Harbors encountered a new challenge: wastewater management.
Due to updated regulations imposed by Huntington Village, the brewery was required to store, treat, and test its wastewater before releasing it into the municipal sewer system.
“Some municipalities require wastewater to be pumped into a settling tank and tested prior to discharge,” explains Watson. “This is where the Saniflo pump becomes a valuable solution for SmartBrew customers.”
Mark Heuwetter adds, “We needed a reliable way to pump wastewater from a lower area to a holding tank so we could meet the town’s sampling requirements.”
Solution
Initially, Six Harbors installed a single pump unit that met minimum requirements. Shortly after, SmartBrew approached the brewery with an opportunity to test a new high-temperature commercial duplex drain pump from Saniflo: the Sanicom 2.
Six Harbors agreed to replace the single pump with the Sanicom 2.
“With this upgrade, we achieved greater efficiency in treating our wastewater before it enters the sewer system,” says Heuwetter.
After beer is kegged, the drain pump transports trub and hop residue up to five feet vertically into a holding tank. Once collected, the wastewater is:
- Treated
- Sampled
- Tested by town authorities
This process ensures compliance before discharge. The SmartBrew system then runs multiple rinsing, cleaning, and sanitizing cycles to prepare the tanks for the next brew.
SmartBrew has since incorporated Saniflo pumps into similar installations to help other breweries meet local wastewater regulations.
“By integrating a drain pump when required, our customers can meet or exceed municipal requirements with an efficient and reliable solution,” explains Watson.
Results
Installing the Saniflo Sanicom 2 produced several measurable benefits for Six Harbors Brewing Company.
- Successfully transferred wastewater from lower tanks to the holding tank, ensuring compliance with town regulations
- Easily handled a five-foot vertical lift, well within the pump’s 32-foot maximum capacity
- Provided flexibility for future system modifications or expansion
- Withstood acidic wastewater commonly found in brewing applications
The pump’s automated on-off operation and ability to handle heavier loads proved beneficial for SmartBrew’s systems.
Heuwetter also noted the ease of installation. Master plumber and brewery partner Gus Menocal installed the unit and found the intake, outtake, and overflow piping simple to connect.
The system was customized to accommodate an existing 30-amp outlet, ensuring compliance with electrical codes while maintaining safe operation.
As the first brewery to successfully implement this system, Six Harbors demonstrated the effectiveness of the Saniflo Sanicom 2 for wastewater management.
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ABOUT SANIFLO
SFA SANIFLO U.S.A. – whose parent company originated macerating plumbing technology — offers a complete line of waste and drainage pumping systems for residential and commercial applications. Saniflo developed its innovative, “above-floor plumbing” technology more than a half-century ago and has led its commercialization worldwide. Today, the company markets macerating technology through 24 subsidiaries in 50 countries and has sold more than seven million units worldwide since 1958.
For more information, contact Saniflo at 1-800-571-8191 or visit saniflo.com.
For editorial assistance, including photography, contact John O’Reilly c/o GreenHouse Digital + PR: 708-428-6385 or [email protected].
