The Journey of a Microplastic

Follow one tiny plastic particle and discover how it can travel from everyday products into our drinking water.

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Hidden in H2O river otter professor

Discarded plastic bottles and packaging that can break into smaller pieces — Everyday plastic waste

1

It Begins Here

Many everyday plastic products — bottles, food packaging, shopping bags, and synthetic clothing — slowly wear down over time due to sunlight, weather, friction, and repeated use.

Millions of tons of plastic enter the environment every year.

Let's keep going!

Real microplastic fragments formed as larger plastics wear down — Tiny microplastic fragments

2

Tiny Pieces Form

Heat, sunlight, and weather gradually break larger plastics into tiny pieces called microplastics — small enough to escape into the environment unnoticed.

Watch what happens next!

Plastic litter beside water where rain can carry it downstream — Pollution carried toward waterways

3

Washed Away

Rainwater carries tiny plastic particles across sidewalks and streets into storm drains that often lead straight to rivers and streams.

Almost there!

Plastic pollution floating underwater in a natural aquatic environment — Plastic moving through aquatic habitats

4

Traveling Through Nature

Microplastics continue moving through rivers and lakes while mixing with natural ecosystems — fish, plants, and other wildlife along the way.

Microplastics have been found in rivers, lakes, oceans, soil, and even the air.

Every choice makes a difference!

Microplastic particles seen closely while researchers study water contamination — Particles small enough to challenge filtration

5

The Filtration Process

Water treatment plants remove many contaminants, but some very small microplastic particles may remain depending on the treatment methods used.

Large particles ✔ Removed

Microplastics ⚠ Some may remain

Watch what happens next!

Clean water flowing from a public drinking-water tap — Treated water reaches taps and fountains

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Arriving at School

Treated water reaches schools through underground pipes and is available at drinking fountains and bottle filling stations.

Almost there!

Drinking water being poured into a glass — Informed choices protect every sip

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Every Sip Matters

Learning about microplastics helps us make informed choices, reduce plastic pollution, and support cleaner drinking water for everyone.

Every choice makes a difference!

MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE

Understanding the journey of microplastics is the first step toward protecting cleaner water for future generations.

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