We have talked in previous articles about rainwater collection and storage in water storage tanks, advantages, disadvantages, applications, etc.

In this article we will briefly discuss the presence of plastic microparticles in water, whether it is underground (springs), above ground (wells) or collected in water storage tanks.


What are plastic microparticles?

The presence of microparticles in water, fruit, vegetables and fish is a global concern. There is an enormous amount of plastic that does not disintegrate but turns into tiny, tiny, tiny particles that then end up in the products we consume.




How do these particles end up in the water?


Surface water drainage

Waste water from households

Plastic waste everywhere you look

Atmospheric deposits

Plastic used for water storage (bottles)

 

Are plastic microparticles dangerous?

YES, some studies say that we already consume the equivalent of a plastic bank card without realising it.

What are the long-term consequences of these microparticles for the human body? 

Studies show that they have negative effects on cells, cause inflammation, obesity, increase the risk of cancer, but the list is still open, because studies are still in their early stages and efforts to eliminate plastic are hard to implement.

 

How can you tell if the water you drink contains plastic microparticles?

Unfortunately you can't find out by testing the water at home, only at a special laboratory.

If it comes from nature, springs or wells, it is advisable to have it tested before drinking it. Even water drawn from deep wells requires testing.

 

Does bottled water contain plastic microparticles?

Yes, plastic particles were found in over 90% of the studies, carried out on bottled water.


How do you remove plastic microparticles from water?


To remove microplastics from drinking water, the best home filtration options are reverse osmosis, distillation and ultrafiltration. Filters have to be very dense to capture particles between 100 nanometres and 5 millimetres in size.

Boiling water distillation is another common method, which involves collecting steam and cooling it in another vessel.

Ultrafiltration is not as effective as osmosis because it does not remove contaminants so well, but on the other hand, it does not remove minerals from the water either.

For collecting rainwater and using it for outdoor activities, filtration through special filters is required to remove the dirt accumulated in the collection process.



Collecting and storing water in storage tanks for use in food-related activities requires more than that, it requires professional filters, rigorous testing and drinking water storage tanks.

These tanks are made of PE, but treated to store drinking water. The material used meets the environmental requirements for equipment and tanks and microbiological requirements.

Drinking water storage tanks are airtight, waterproof, UV-resistant and opaque, so they do not grow algae and bacteria.

Drinking water should be stored in quality tanks specially made for these needs. Water stored in a tank that deteriorates over time, removing plastic micro-particles slowly in the water, is dangerous to consumers health.


Roth has developed a special range of water tanks for storing drinking water.


Find out more about this type of water storage tanks, contact us for more details.

Other larticles on the same topic:

Advantages and disadvantages of rainwater harvesting

Cleaning the gutters for proper rainwater collection

Everything you need to know about harvesting rainwater

ROTH water storage tanks

What are water storage tanks, types and applications!