PREVENTING PLASTIC WATER

How do wastewater treatment plants remove microplastics?

1 SEDIMENTATION

Water moves slowly through a sedimentation tank to allow suspended microplastic particles to sink and be filtered out of the water.

2 AERATION

Oxygen is added to cause growth of microorganisms and break down organics. The mesh used to collect waste products can trap up to 99 per cent of microplastics.

3 OXIDATION

An oxidant called ozone is added to water to break down contaminants such as microplastics. This is the most effective step to completely destroy them.