{"id":16614,"date":"2026-03-24T15:49:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleanwaterstore.com\/blog\/?p=16614"},"modified":"2026-10-11T15:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T22:43:12","slug":"microplastics-in-tap-water-city-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleanwaterstore.com\/blog\/microplastics-in-tap-water-city-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Microplastics in City Tap Water? What Municipal Water Customers Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most city water customers assume that because their water is treated, it’s safe from emerging contaminants like microplastics. The reality is more complicated. Here are the questions homeowners on municipal water are asking us every day, answered honestly.<\/p>\n

What Are Microplastics and How Do They End Up in My City Water?<\/h2>\n

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, generally less than 5 millimeters in size. Often microscopic, they have broken down from larger plastic waste or been released directly into the environment. They come from synthetic textiles, tires, industrial processes, and consumer products. They are now found virtually everywhere on Earth: in oceans, rivers, soil, air, and drinking water.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

In municipal water systems, microplastics enter through several pathways. Source water \u2014 the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that feed city water supplies \u2014 already contains microplastics from runoff, wastewater discharge, and atmospheric deposition. Microplastics can also enter treated water through aging plastic distribution pipes and even through plastic storage infrastructure after treatment is complete.<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

EPA: Microplastics in Drinking Water Research<\/a>
\nWHO: Microplastics in Drinking Water<\/a><\/p>\n

Does My City’s Water Treatment Plant Remove Microplastics?<\/h2>\n

Conventional municipal water treatment (which typically includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection) was designed decades before microplastics were identified as a concern. Research suggests that standard treatment processes can remove a significant portion of larger microplastic particles, but smaller microplastics and nanoplastics frequently pass through and into finished drinking water.<\/p>\n

A 2021 study published in Environmental Science & Technology<\/em> found microplastics in treated tap water samples across multiple countries, confirming that conventional treatment alone is not a reliable barrier at all size ranges. The EPA is conducting ongoing research but has not yet set a federal maximum contaminant level. This means utilities are not required to test for or report microplastic levels in your annual water quality report.<\/p>\n

The bottom line: treatment helps, but it does not eliminate microplastics from your tap water.<\/p>\n

Find your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) at EPA.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Is Bottled Water Safer Than Tap Water for Microplastics?<\/h2>\n

This is one of the most common questions we hear. The answer may surprise you. Studies have consistently found microplastics in bottled water, often at higher concentrations than in tap water. A 2018 study testing 259 bottled water products from 11 brands across 9 countries found microplastics in 93% of samples.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Plastic bottles themselves are a source of contamination, particularly when exposed to heat or UV light. Beyond the health concern, bottled water generates enormous plastic waste and costs far more per gallon than filtered tap water. It is not a reliable or sustainable solution to microplastics exposure. For most families, high-quality home filtration is a far better investment.<\/p>\n

What Does My Annual Water Quality Report Say About Microplastics?<\/h2>\n

Almost certainly nothing \u2014 and that’s not because your utility is hiding something. The EPA has not yet established a regulatory limit for microplastics in drinking water, so water utilities are not required to test for or report them in your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Your annual report is a useful document for regulated contaminants, but microplastics are not yet among them.<\/p>\n

This is precisely why proactive home filtration matters. Waiting for regulation to catch up means years of continued exposure. The homeowners we work with every day have decided not to wait.<\/p>\n

What Is the Best Filter to Remove Microplastics From City Tap Water?<\/h2>\n

Not all filters are equal when it comes to microplastics. The key is pore size \u2014 a filter needs to be fine enough to physically capture particles that can be extremely small. Here is how the main technologies compare:<\/p>\n