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Collaboration UPPWATER Pharmaceutical Residue Removal
Collaboration UPPWATER Pharmaceutical Residue Removal
Published on March 11, 2025 – Water authority Vechtstromen is collaborating with Nijhuis Saur Industries to implement the UPPWATER Pharmaceutical Residue Removal project. UPPWATER is the driving program for the growth of the Dutch water technology sector and is funded by the National Growth Fund. It stimulates collaboration between governments and businesses to develop innovative technologies and bring them to the global market to improve water quality. NX Filtration, Jotem Water Solutions, and Van Remmen UV Technology are involved in this project due to their expertise in the relevant technologies.
The MONF unit merges NSI’s expertise in industrial and municipal water treatment with NXF’s stateof-the-art hollow fiber membrane technology, offering a modular and chemical-free solution that allows industries to effectively close the water loop.
Project Background
Surface water in the eastern Netherlands contains high concentrations of microcontaminants, including pharmaceutical residues. Unfortunately, current wastewater treatment processes only partially remove these substances, allowing a significant portion to end up in streams, ditches, and rivers, which negatively impacts aquatic life. National and European regulations are imposing increasingly strict requirements on water quality, particularly regarding pharmaceutical residues. To meet these standards, new technologies are needed that enable large-scale wastewater purification. The goal of this project is to gain experience in reducing the concentration of pharmaceutical residues in treated wastewater. Therefore, a facility for removing microcontaminants will be installed at the wastewater treatment plant in Enschede. This will enable the reuse of treated wastewater for industrial or other purposes.
Collaboration
To design and implement the UPPWATER Pharmaceutical Residue Removal project, it is essential to integrate the innovation potential of the commercial market and research institutions with the water authority early on and for an extended period. The project was tendered at the European level, and the Nijhuis consortium won the bid. The consortium is led by Nijhuis Saur Industries, which submitted the proposal on behalf of the CLC Water partnership. Additionally, Jotem Water Solutions, NX Filtration, and Van Remmen UV Technology are involved in this project due to their expertise in the relevant technologies. CLC Water is a sustainable collaboration consisting of ADS Groep, Nijhuis Saur Industries, Witteveen+Bos, Pannekoek GWW, and Moekotte.
Furthermore, an expert group from research institutions will be engaged for knowledge exchange, analysis, and optimization of the measures. It is promising to see so many different parties and disciplines contributing their expertise. The consortium is now starting the preparation and design phase for the first demonstration phase.
UPPWATER and the Water Authorities
Companies, governments, and research institutions are working together within UPPWATER to advance research, testing, full-scale demonstrations, and market development. The goal is to drive economic growth in the Dutch water technology sector and contribute to technologies that ensure sufficient and high-quality water. This aligns with the core mission of the water authorities, making their involvement in UPPWATER a natural fit. The initiative generates valuable knowledge and experience and is highly relevant in addressing water quality challenges. Over the next ten years, five water authorities will conduct 20 full-scale demonstration projects using various techniques. A total investment of more than €46 million is allocated for these initiatives.
The MONF unit merges NSI’s expertise in industrial and municipal water treatment with NXF’s stateof-the-art hollow fiber membrane technology, offering a modular and chemical-free solution that allows industries to effectively close the water loop.
Project Background
Surface water in the eastern Netherlands contains high concentrations of microcontaminants, including pharmaceutical residues. Unfortunately, current wastewater treatment processes only partially remove these substances, allowing a significant portion to end up in streams, ditches, and rivers, which negatively impacts aquatic life. National and European regulations are imposing increasingly strict requirements on water quality, particularly regarding pharmaceutical residues. To meet these standards, new technologies are needed that enable large-scale wastewater purification. The goal of this project is to gain experience in reducing the concentration of pharmaceutical residues in treated wastewater. Therefore, a facility for removing microcontaminants will be installed at the wastewater treatment plant in Enschede. This will enable the reuse of treated wastewater for industrial or other purposes.
Collaboration
To design and implement the UPPWATER Pharmaceutical Residue Removal project, it is essential to integrate the innovation potential of the commercial market and research institutions with the water authority early on and for an extended period. The project was tendered at the European level, and the Nijhuis consortium won the bid. The consortium is led by Nijhuis Saur Industries, which submitted the proposal on behalf of the CLC Water partnership. Additionally, Jotem Water Solutions, NX Filtration, and Van Remmen UV Technology are involved in this project due to their expertise in the relevant technologies. CLC Water is a sustainable collaboration consisting of ADS Groep, Nijhuis Saur Industries, Witteveen+Bos, Pannekoek GWW, and Moekotte.
Furthermore, an expert group from research institutions will be engaged for knowledge exchange, analysis, and optimization of the measures. It is promising to see so many different parties and disciplines contributing their expertise. The consortium is now starting the preparation and design phase for the first demonstration phase.
UPPWATER and the Water Authorities
Companies, governments, and research institutions are working together within UPPWATER to advance research, testing, full-scale demonstrations, and market development. The goal is to drive economic growth in the Dutch water technology sector and contribute to technologies that ensure sufficient and high-quality water. This aligns with the core mission of the water authorities, making their involvement in UPPWATER a natural fit. The initiative generates valuable knowledge and experience and is highly relevant in addressing water quality challenges. Over the next ten years, five water authorities will conduct 20 full-scale demonstration projects using various techniques. A total investment of more than €46 million is allocated for these initiatives.
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