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Astoria approves $20,000 grant to test worm-based filtration for brewery wastewater
Summary
The council unanimously approved a $20,000 matching grant to Colpack to pilot vermifiltration to treat brewery wastewater; project partners include the OSU Seafood Center and the Port of Astoria and will produce a technical report from the contractor Perka.
The Astoria City Council voted to award a $20,000 community-resiliency grant to Colpack to fund a pilot study of vermifiltration—an emerging wastewater treatment method that uses worms and organic media to reduce biosolids and contaminants in industrial effluent.
Colpack director Sarah Lou told the council the pilot targets brewery wastewater and will be done in partnership with the OSU Seafood Center, the Port of Astoria and local fermentation businesses. The total project is roughly $192,000; the $20,000 award is part of matching funds for a Perka-provided rapid assay and demonstration unit. "What we're doing is using all of these different waste streams, characterizing their chemistry, and then developing the business feasibility on whether or not we can use this at scale," Sarah Lou said.
Portrait Brewery vice president Brandon Poit spoke in support, saying the approach is unconventional but rooted in sound biomimicry and could address a pressing permitting challenge for fermentation and seafood processors. Council members asked for a formal report at the pilot’s conclusion; Sarah Lou confirmed Perka will provide a scientist-authored report as part of the scope.
Councilor Davis moved approval and the motion passed without recorded opposition. Staff will execute a grant agreement and Colpack will proceed with the pilot; the council asked for a follow-up report when the Perka testing and recommendations are complete.
