SUEZ has signed an important contract with Hillerød Forsyning to upgrade the HCR Syd wastewater treatment plant to improve treatment of drug residues and other environmentally harmful substances. The project, valued at EUR4.5 (USD4.92) million, marks a major step forward in sustainable water treatment solutions and will be vital for the region’s environmental and public health.
The upgrade is driven by the upcoming connection of New Hospital North Zealand (Nyt Hospital Nordsjælland) to the existing wastewater treatment plant. The hospital, which is currently under construction, will increase the wastewater load on the treatment plant. Moreover, the region has significant industrial activities that contribute to the overall industrial load. Since 97 per cent of the pharmaceutical residues in the municipality’s wastewater come from private homes and only about three per cent from the hospital, it is more efficient to establish centralised treatment at the HCR Syd treatment plant.
The project will be launched in early 2025 with planned completion and operation in mid-2026. SUEZ will implement an advanced quaternary treatment step for the treatment of pharmaceutical residues at HCR Syd. The solution includes inline ozonation and GAC filters (SUEZ Carbablue solution) designed to meet effluent discharge requirements for selected pharmaceuticals from the wastewater.
The plant, designed for 100,000 person equivalents, will be one of the first municipal wastewater treatment plants in Denmark to implement a dedicated treatment step for the removal of pharmaceutical residues, and will thus serve as an important reference plant for the implementation of the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in the EU.
The upgrade of HCR Syd is a reflection of our commitment to delivering robust and innovative solutions while driving the ecological transition for the benefit of end users. We are proud to lead Hillerød Forsyning on this project, which will not only improve water quality by removing pharmaceutical residues, but also support the growing demands of the region.
Per Krøyer Kristensen, CEO of SUEZ Water A/S
At Hillerød Forsyning, we have chosen to establish a centralised treatment for medicine residues at HCR Syd, because with this solution we can remove the vast majority of pharmaceutical residues from all medicines throughout the municipality. We are therefore pleased with the collaboration with SUEZ and look forward to getting started with the expansion, so we can ensure a more sustainable aquatic environment and a healthier water supply – both now and in the future.
