Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Tracking the Presence of Microplastics from Raw to Drinking Water in Fiji Roselyn Lata*, Timaima Waqanabete, Steven Aru, Robert Chang, David Rohindra School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Oceans and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji In the era when clean drinking water is essential to maintain good health, the presence of microplastics (MPs) in water for human consumption is of extreme concern. Raw water from three rivers, a waterfall and a dam feeding the treatment plants, treated and tap water connected to the treatment plants were investigated for MPs. Rainwater, groundwater and three brands of artesian bottled water were also investigated for the presence of MPs. This is the first baseline data study on the abundance, size and type of MPs in Fiji’s different types of drinking water. Presence of MP dependent on water types. The average amount of MPs in raw river water ranged from 0.2 ± 0.1 to 7.0 ± 0.4 MP L -1 while in treated and the adjoining tap water ranged from 0.3 ± 0.1 to 2.9 ± 0.2 MP L-1. Presence of MPs were detected in bottled water and ground water and ranged from 2.2 ± 0.2 to 0.35 ± 0.2 MP L -1 ,respectively. The amount of MPs in treated and adjoining tap water depended on the location of the raw water source, time of sampling and the treatment process. Fibre type and MPs > 150 µm predominated in raw, treated and tap water samples whereas MPs fragments >100 µm were dominant in bottled water. The polymers identified using Infrared spectroscopy were poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The treatment process, although not designed to remove MPs, was 50-59 % effective in the removal of MPs. PMMA and PS were the most removed during treatment. The information from this investigation narrows the knowledge gap on the MP contamination of drinking water in Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the South Pacific. It is suggested for MP free drinking water, raw water source for treatment plants should be away from populated areas.
P10
© The Author(s), 2023
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