Winterswijk sees 83% drop in medicinal residue in local waterways

A collaborative initiative between Streekziekenhuis Koningin Beatrix (SKB) and Waterschap Rijn en IJssel has resulted in an 83 percent reduction of contrast liquid residues in the ditches and streams surrounding Winterswijk, Netherlands.

Since the summer of 2024, SKB has provided patients undergoing CT scans with contrast agents special collection bags. These bags contain a powder that converts urine into a gel, allowing the waste to be disposed of as residual household waste rather than entering the sewage system. This hospital-level intervention alone reduced the amount of contrast liquid in sewage water by approximately 50 percent.

The remaining reduction was achieved through additional purification techniques implemented by the water board in 2025. The combined approach of patient-led collection and advanced technical water treatment has significantly lowered the presence of medicinal residues in surface waters.