How many microplastic particles are in your tap water from source to faucet?

What's actually in it

Your tap water travels a long path: from underground aquifers or surface reservoirs, through treatment plants, along miles of distribution pipes, and finally through your home plumbing to the faucet. At every stage, microplastics can enter or accumulate. Pipes shed particles, treatment processes don't remove all plastics, and storage tanks can add more.

Most people drink, cook with, and wash food in tap water every day without thinking about what's in it beyond the basics.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Water Res tracked microplastic particles along the entire drinking water supply chain in Milan, from the underground aquifer all the way to the tap. At each stage, the researchers counted and identified the particles.

Microplastics were found at every point in the chain. The aquifer water already contained some particles. Treatment plants removed a portion but not all. The distribution network, made of PVC, polyethylene, and other plastic pipes, added more particles along the way.

By the time water reached the tap, microplastic counts were higher than at the source. The pipes themselves were a major contributor, shedding particles from their inner surfaces as water flowed through.

A point-of-use filter at your kitchen faucet is the most effective last line of defense. Carbon block and reverse osmosis filters can catch most microplastics. Glass or stainless steel pitchers with certified filters also help.