A major milestone was reached in the fight against pharmaceutical pollution: the official launch of Flanders’ first full-scale quaternary treatment installation at the Aartselaar wastewater treatment plant. This innovative purification step is designed to tackle micropollutants, such as residues of medicines and cosmetics, which are known to affect aquatic ecosystems even at very low concentrations.
This pioneering installation significantly improves the water quality of the Grote Struisbeek, which receives treated water from the facility. The technology combines ozonation and activated carbon filtration—a powerful combination for removing pharmaceutical residues from wastewater. As noted by Flemish Minister for Agriculture and Environment Jo Brouns, this project places Flanders among the European frontrunners in advanced water treatment innovation.
“Innovation, where Flanders excels, will be essential to restore the health of our waterways. This project proves that,” said Minister Brouns.
The initiative aligns with future European requirements, such as the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which will make the removal of micropollutants mandatory across EU Member States.
PREWAPHARM's role
The PREWAPHARM project, co-funded by Interreg North-West Europe (NWE), is proud to contribute to this momentum. Through close collaboration with stakeholders like Aquafin, we aim to advance research, technology implementation, and cross-border learning around pharmaceutical pollution in surface waters. This installation is an important step in the broader goal of PREWAPHARM: reducing pharmaceutical residues in the water cycle at every stage. At PREWAPHARM, the emphasis is on decentralised solutions. For instance, pilots on small-scale wastewater treatment plants at Aquafin and sewer overflows will be part of the projects. In this manner, the subsequent undertakings of PREWAPHARM will be supplementary to the findings of this extensive installation in Aartselaar.
Shared learning and research
As researchers and technical partners engage with this new treatment step, a period of data collection and learning begins. The outcomes from this installation will provide valuable insights for both the PREWAPHARM and other European research projects, including “Schone Waterlopen” by O3G (Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland), helping us to better understand the performance and impact of quaternary treatment in real-world conditions.
This achievement is the result of collaboration between motivated individuals and organisations and sets the stage for deeper innovation and shared progress across North-West Europe.
Photo credits: Aquafin NV
This information is derived from a press release issued by Aquafin NV, our project partner. Further information can be found here:
Naar gezonde waterlopen in Vlaanderen: rioolwaterzuiveraar Aquafin start eerste nazuivering voor micropolluenten op