REGAIN research project ready for launch

Today, three treatment techniques were officially presented at the wastewater treatment plant in Garmerwolde. Over the next year and a half, research will be conducted to determine which method is most suitable for removing pharmaceutical residues from treated wastewater. The research will also investigate how this extra-treated wastewater can then be used as a source of industrial water. These tests are part of the three-year REGAIN research project, a collaboration between the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, water quality and water technology company WLN, the CEW knowledge institute, and North Water (industrial water subsidiary of Waterbedrijf Groningen and Evides Industriewater).

Research into three technologies

Within REGAIN, which stands for REuse of Garmerwolde municipal effluent for INdustrial processes, three different techniques are being tested to effectively and efficiently remove drug residues: biologically active carbon filtration (BODAC), capillary nanofiltration, and constructed wetlands. BODAC uses activated carbon with a biofilm layer for purification, whereby drug residues are removed by the addition of oxygen. This method is sustainable because the carbon remains effective for a long time. Capillary nanofiltration is a filtration technique in which membranes are used to trap drug residues, concentrating the substances. This method uses as few chemicals as possible for cleaning. Constructed Wetlands is an innovative, natural form of purification using reed plants. To improve efficiency, absorbent granules are added to the soil, which are covered with a biomass layer that breaks down drug residues. Air is actively added here.

From waste product to raw material

With REGAIN, we are working on a circular solution to improve water quality, limit water scarcity, and promote sustainable growth in the industry. Removing drug residues from treated wastewater contributes to improving water quality. No less than 90% of drug residues end up in our sewage water via the toilet. This amount is increasing due to rising drug use and higher life expectancy. This has negative consequences for water quality and thus for life in the Wadden Sea. But the obvious availability of fresh water is also under increasing pressure. Higher consumption per person, population growth, and economic developments are increasing the demand for water. At the same time, climate change, including hot, dry summers, is causing increasing water scarcity. By using water differently, offering alternatives based on surface water to industry, and possibly also using extra purified wastewater as a source in the future, we can preserve drinking water sources for drinking water while also ensuring that water remains available for industrial applications.

Cooperation for circular water use is essential

Circular water use requires cooperation and transcending individual boundaries. This joint project by Waterschap Noorderzijlvest, WLN, CEW, and North Water investigates the feasibility of a combined solution for both water scarcity and water quality. The purification techniques are being tested at the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority's purification site in Garmerwolde, which is a suitable location due to the presence of both the water authority's sewage treatment plant and North Water's industrial water treatment plant. REGAIN is made possible in part by contributions from the Wadden Fund, Eemsdelta Green, and the National Program Groningen. At the end of this project, it will be clear whether the tested purification techniques can be applied with rollout in the form of an additional purification plant.