project_23225 - Research on Removal of Microplastics by Drinking Water Treatment Processes

The issue of microplastics in freshwater systems in an emerging area of research. Defra has already funded some work on microplastics in rivers and sewage treatment. There have also been a number of reviews on the topic including the Foundation for Water Research, the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management, the global Water Research Coalition and the Foundation for Water Research. Common themes emerging from these reviews is that there are no harmonised methods of analysis. Whilst waste water treatment provides effective removal of particles, high numbers are likely to be present in fresh waters and little is known about their removal in drinking water treatment processes.