Northern Netherlands joins forces to drastically reduce pharmaceutical residues in water

Northern Netherlands takes an important step toward a cleaner environment and a healthier living environment with the official launch of the project “Northern Netherlands as a frontrunner in reducing pharmaceutical residues in water,” in which Prof. Eelko Hak and Katja Taxis of GRIP participate.

A broad consortium of small and medium-sized enterprises, knowledge institutions, healthcare organizations, and governmental bodies will collaborate intensively over a three-year period to develop concrete, scalable solutions. Funding approval has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), awarded by the Northern Netherlands Alliance (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland, SNN), together with co-financing from the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen, and Fryslân, and the municipalities of Assen, Leeuwarden, and Groningen. The total project budget amounts to €2.34 million, of which half is subsidized by SNN. GRIP will conduct data-driven research into the relationship between medication dispensing and measured concentrations in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

The project is a collaboration between: TCNN (lead partner), University of Groningen, LIFE Cooperative, Wilhelmina Hospital Assen, Martini Hospital, Isala Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Frisius Medical Center, Water Alliance, Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW), Wetterskip Fryslân, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, Province of Groningen, Province of Drenthe, Province of Fryslân, SNN, and Pharmaceutical Residues from Water Northern Netherlands.

Together, we are working toward a healthy, sustainable, and economically strong Northern Netherlands.