Investigation: Microplastics in our drinking water

Instructions / How to do this investigation

Microplastics Sample Collection Protocol

Home Water Collection

1. Each student take home 1, 32 oz. mason jar.
2. Each mason jar will be labelled with their address, city or well water, type of plumbing (Pex, copper, PVC, etc.), whether they have a water filter, and year house was built.
3. Labels will be made by cutting strips of Rite-n-Rain paper, writing on it, and then taping to the side or top of the mason jar.
4. Run cold water from the bathtub or shower for 30 seconds and then fill your mason jar, cap it, record date, and bring back to school.
5. Once back at school, each student will filter all of the water from the mason jar. (see Microplastics Sampling and Processing Guidebook p. 23 for procedure).
6. Filters will then be analyzed for microplastics under the microscope. This will entail counting and categorizing every microplastic (see guidebook p. 28).
7. If feasible, each potential piece of plastic will be photographed through the microscope – there may be too many plastics for this to work.
8. Data will be analyzed to determine if any of the measured variables influence microplastic concentrations in tap water.
9. All data will be entered into the WeatherBlur investigation webpage.

Notes:

1. During sample collection, be aware of possible contamination from synthetic clothing and plastic items in the surrounding area. Try to minimize exposure of the water sample to other sources of plastic by placing the lid on the jar as soon as the sample is collected.