Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions’ (WMFTS) Qdos CWT chemical metering pumps are at the heart of Zereau’s advanced systems that filter drug residues from hospital wastewater in the Netherlands and beyond, helping to protect waterways and support sustainable healthcare.
Pharmaceutical residues in wastewater pose risks to drinking water and aquatic ecosystems. Hospitals are a primary source, making on-site treatment the most effective solution.
Zereau’s solutions target medical wastewater from nuclear medicine, radiology, pharmacies and ICUs. Each system uses a Qdos CWT peristaltic pump to accurately and reliably drive liquid through specialised filters. Key systems include
- MediCatch: for pharmacies, labs, and ICUs
- RadiCatch: toilet filtration for nuclear medicine departments
- ContrastCatch: urine filtration for radiology units.
These systems capture and filter urine containing contrast agents and other medical residues — often more than 50% of the administered dose excreted within 2 hours—while enabling recovery of valuable materials like iodine and gadolinium.
Bart Boots, Zereau founder and Operational Director, said: “The Qdos pump ensures precise, steady flow through our filters and comes with a 3-year guarantee. Reliability is crucial for our systems.”
In the Netherlands alone, at least 190,000 kg of medicine residues enter surface and groundwater each year.
Zereau’s filtration devices reduce this environmental footprint, simplify hospital wastewater management, and support compliance with strict regulations.
Mattijs Maris, Zereau founder and Chief Commercial Officer, added: “Traditional tank storage is space-intensive and outdated. Our filters allow hospitals to manage wastewater efficiently, even as radioligand therapies increase.”
Success in practice
The Martini Hospital in Groningen was the first to use MediCatch for its pharmacy wastewater. In 4 months, 99% of drug residues were removed. Annemarie van der Aart, Head of Pharmacy, said: “This solution is easy to apply and highly effective. It allows us to contribute to sustainable healthcare.”
Patients at Radboudumc and Martini’s radiology clinic use specialised toilets that capture up to 50% of dosed iodine or gadolinium.
Zereau systems are also in use across hospitals in Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and the UK, and will soon expand to Mexico.
Why Qdos CWT?
The Qdos CWT pump uses peristaltic Conveying Wave Technology for longer service life, low maintenance, and reliable fluid transfer.
Arthur Van Geet, WMFTS Sales Team Leader, noted: “Its reliability and ease of use make it ideal for Zereau’s filtration systems. Once installed, maintenance is minimal,and it safely handles fluid transfer for 2–3 years.”