Now the drugs don’t reach the Stångån river – Östgöta Correspondenten

the Drugs we put in ourselves can, in principle, straight through the body and disappear in the toilet. But they remain, unfortunately, not at the treatment plant, but lands in the river Stångån since there has been technology to access the drug residues. Fixed now, it should be repentance. On Friday took the technology works, the first sod for a new large-scale and permanent facility. It is a so-called reactor, as all the waste water treatment plant must pass. Where are attacked läkemedelsresterna with ozongas.

Ozone has an oxidizing effect that may the strong molecular chains in the drugs to break down. Then they can be taken care of by the second step in the wastewater treatment plant. Ozone is dangerous for humans, but we have a closed system and ensures that the gas is consumed in the process, ” says Anna Löfsen business area manager for water and wastewater at Tekniska verken.

Now, it has operated a testing facility for a period of time and seen that the drug actually broken down. It is estimated that there are over 1 000 preparations that take into account, and you have not tested all. But the results of some of the most common has been very good.

“We expect to be able to remove between 70 and 90 percent of drugs that we know of,” says Anna Löfsén.

This is important in many ways. Several studies show that aquatic animals and organisms in a cocktail of sex hormones, painkillers and antidepressants. Concentration is in some cases so high that it can have a pharmacological effect on the such as fish.

” this is a big problem in Sweden, but there is an even greater problem in other läkemedelsproducerande countries such as India and China. Therefore, there is a very large potential in this technology, ” says Technical works, the chairman of the board Nils Hillerbrand (MP).

Anders Jonsson, ceo of Tekniska verken, was proud of the new facility.

– It is a result of the knowledge of the Technical works engineers and technicians. The facility will expand our operating costs by two million, but it is the ordinary staff who will operate it.

Interest is also high from other municipalities:

– There are similar facilities on a smaller scale in other places. But our engineers have developed this, and we notice that you are following our work with great interest, ” adds Anders Jonsson.

The new läkemedelsreningsanläggningen will be ready in spring 2017.