How to Remove Microplastics From Drinking Water
You’ve probably heard of microplastics showing up in the ocean, seafood, and even table salt. But did you know these tiny plastic particles can also be found in your tap and bottled water?
If you're wondering “do water filters remove microplastics?”, or you’re searching for the best water filter for microplastics, we’ve got you covered. This guide breaks down everything you need to know, so read on.
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size – the size of a sesame seed or smaller. There are two main types of microplastics – primary and secondary.
Primary microplastics are made to be small (for example, microbeads in face scrubs or fibres from synthetic fabrics), whereas secondary microplastics are created when larger plastics break down (for example, a plastic bottle degrading over time).
Does Tap Water Contain Microplastics?
Yes, in many parts of the world, tap water contains microplastics. A 2017 study by Orb Media analysed tap water samples from over a dozen countries and found that 83% of samples were contaminated.
In the United States, 94% of tap water samples tested contained microplastics.
A more recent study conducted in 2025 looked at bottled and tap water in France and found that tap water samples from Toulouse contained 413 microplastic particles per liter.
Does Bottled Water Contain Microplastics?
Yes - bottled water can contain just as many microplastics as tap water. In fact, bottled water might contain more microplastics.
Bottled water can contain between 19 and 1,154 microplastic particles per liter, according to a study published in PLOS Water.
Another study published in Science Direct looked at UK tap water and found microplastics in every tested sample. However, the microplastics found in bottled water were smaller on average.
How Do Microplastics Get Into Drinking Water?
Microplastics enter drinking water through both environmental and human-made pathways. The particles are tiny and widespread, which means that they can infiltrate water sources way before the water reaches your bottles or faucets.
Some common ways microplastics end up in your tap or bottled water include:
- Surface runoff from rain washing plastic debris and particles from land into lakes, rivers, and reservoirs
- Sewage systems carrying microfibres from laundry or plastics from personal care products into water treatment plants
- Plastic water bottles, PVC pipes, and water storage tanks shed microplastic particles over time
- Incomplete filtration as most municipal water systems are designed to remove bacteria and sediment, but not particles as small as microplastics
Microplastics affect both tap water and bottled water, but finding a good water filter is a smart solution, wherever you live.
Can You See Microplastics in Drinking Water?
Most microplastics are invisible to the naked eye. You may be able to see some in the form of tiny fibres or cloudy particles, but in general, you won’t be able to tell if your water is contaminated just by looking at it.
Is It Dangerous to Consume Microplastics?
Research is ongoing, but yes – it is thought that microplastics can harm human health, especially with long-term exposure. Here’s how microplastics may harm your health:
- Microplastics can contain toxic chemicals such as BPA, pesticides, heavy metals, and phthalates
- Some plastics may affect your hormones as they contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
- Microplastics could cause inflammation or oxidative stress in human cells
- Microplastics have been found in the lungs, liver, and even placental tissue
Regulatory bodies such as the WHO (World Health Organization) have stated more studies are needed, but they recommend limiting microplastic exposure, especially through drinking water. But how? Keep reading to find out.
Do All Water Filters Remove Microplastics?
No – not all water filters can remove microplastics. Many water filter products out there remove:
- Chlorines
- Sediment
- Organic compounds
- Unpleasant tastes
- Heavy metals
However, a lot of water filters lack the fine filtration capability needed to catch particles as small as microplastics. Some filters that don’t effectively filter out microplastics include basic faucet-mounted filters, inline fridge filters and basic activated carbon pitchers.
Which Water Filter Should I Choose?
If you want to remove microplastics from your drinking water, you will need a high-performance water filter that can capture particles 5 microns or smaller.
You should also choose a filter from a reputable brand, and ensure the filter has NSF/ANSI certifications (e.g., Standard 42 for chlorine, Standard 53 for health contaminants, and Standard 401 for emerging contaminants) to indicate third-party testing.
If you want to remove more than just microplastics, opt for a water filter that does it all – choose a filter that utilises a combination of activated carbon, UF membranes, and ion exchange resins for broader protection.
Choose a filter that’s easy to use, and that has added features such as indicator lights or flow-rate warnings.
Here’s a comparison of different types of filter methods and whether they remove microplastics or not.
| Filter Type | Typical Pore Size | Removes Microplastics? |
|---|---|---|
| Basic activated carbon pitcher | ≥ 20 microns | ✗ Only larger sediments |
| Faucet-mounted carbon filter | ~ 10–20 microns | ✗ Limited efficacy |
| Inline fridge filter | ~ 5–10 microns | ✗ Partial removal |
| Ultrafiltration (UF) | 0.01–0.1 microns | ✓ Captures microplastics |
| Reverse osmosis (RO) | 0.0001–0.001 microns | ✓ Captures all microplastics |
| Ceramic or membrane deep filters | 0.1–1 microns | ✓ Most microplastics |
How to Filter Microplastics From Bottled Water
As we’ve established, not even bottled water is safe from microplastics. To minimise microplastic contamination when drinking bottled water, we recommend that you opt for glass or stainless steel bottles, and avoid plastic bottles made from soft plastic as these can shed particles.
We'd also recommend keeping your bottles of water away from heat or sunlight, as these conditions can make the plastic break down more quickly.
However, the most effective way to filter microplastics from bottled water is to use a pitcher filter to re-filter bottled water before you drink.
Ready to Remove Microplastics From Your Water?
Now you understand how prevalent microplastics are in drinking water, you probably want to invest in a water filter that can effectively filter out 99.99% of microplastics. We’ve got you covered.
Check out our ALCHEMY® Automatic Water Filter Pitcher, designed to target modern water contaminants including microplastics, PFAS, chlorine and more. Our filter uses Ultrafiltration (UF) and Carbon technology to remove 99%+ of contaminants with effortless maintenance.
Invest in the ALCHEMY® pitcher and get safer, cleaner drinking water whether you're at home or on the go.