The THERESA PCP project’s main objective is the development of a “green” and innovative solution to treat Hospital Wastewater (HWW).
Every day, hospitals use medicines and treatments that save lives — but they also leave behind something less visible: wastewater filled with pharmaceutical residues, pathogens, and other harmful substances. Current city wastewater plants cannot fully remove these contaminants, which means they can end up in rivers, soils, and even drinking water.
This is not only an environmental problem, but also a public health threat. Hospital wastewater is a hotspot for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARG). This makes effective on-site treatment not only an environmental necessity but also a key measure to protect public health.
The European Wastewater context
At the European level, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Groundwater Directive (GWD) provide the regulatory basis for developing new wastewater treatment technologies.
While several pilot projects and advanced methods—such as membrane bioreactors, ozonation, and advanced oxidation processes—have been tested, they show clear limitations, often addressing only specific pollutants. This highlights the urgent need for integrated and scalable solutions capable of treating the full spectrum of contaminants found in hospital wastewater.
Why the THERESA PCP project matters for Hospital Wastewater (HWW) treatment
THERESA PCP (Pre-Commercial Procurement of innovative and sustainable solutions to treat healthcare system wastewater) is a European initiative that directly addresses this gap by driving the development of an integrated, “green,” and innovative technology tailored to the unique challenges of hospital wastewater, before it reaches the public water network. These new systems aim to remove:
- Cytostatic drugs (used in cancer treatments)
- Antibiotics
- X-ray contrast agents (used for medical imaging and diagnosis)
By supporting sustainable healthcare practices, it contributes to reducing environmental pollution, limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and aligning hospitals with EU sustainability goals. Ultimately, the Theresa PCP project represents a key step toward a safer, cleaner, and more resilient health system for Europe.