Wastewater treatment and water reuse system for removal of medicine residues - Health Care
Medicine residues and other micro-pollutants are transported via urine and faeces into the sewage system and from there into surface water. This can have negative effects on the aquatic environment and drinking water supply. It is expected that the concentrations of medicines will increase significantly in the future due to aging populations and climate change.
Impact of medicine residues on the environment
Impact of medicine residues on the environment
The risks created by medicine residues in the environment are becoming increasingly better known. For example, recent laboratory studies have shown negative effects on organs, growth and behaviour in fish. Several medicine residues can now be found in surface water, such as X-ray contrast agents, painkillers, contraceptive medications and antibiotics. Some of these medicine residues cause disturbances in the endocrine and immune systems. Antibiotics in the environment contribute to the resistance of pathogens and other bacteria. It is expected that, partly as a result of the aging population, there will be an increased use of medicines in the future and therefore more emissions into the environment. Combined with climate change and the associated prolonged low water levels in rivers, the ‘safe’ surface water concentrations may be exceeded. In this situation, surface water can become (temporarily) unsuitable for the production of drinking water.
Medicine residues in wastewater
Medicines and other microbial contaminants are transported via urine and faeces into the municipal wastewater. The wastewater from hospitals contributes greatly to the concentrations of medicine residues that end up in the environment. The wastewater is treated in sewage treatment plants. However, the existing sewage treatment plants only remove 60% to 70% of the medicines in the wastewater because many of them are difficult to break down.
PureBlue Water contributes to the continued quality of your drinking water
It is possible for medicine residues in surface water to infiltrate groundwater. Drinking water is produced from either groundwater or surface water and can therefore become contaminated with unsafe levels of medicine residues. To avoid this, certain measures are taken and techniques employed in the production of drinking water. However, this is an expensive process. PureBlue Water optimises the removal of medicine residues for the protection of surface water and drinking water production.
Cost-effective removal of medicine residues thanks to the MicroForce++
PureBlue Water has developed the MicroForce++, a patented solution using biological processes and advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the efficient removal of recalcitrant particles (particles which are resistant to degradation) such as medicines. Thanks to the clever combination of biological and chemical processes, we remove the medicine residues in a cost-effective manner. Read more about what makes this system so unique.