Microplastics in Drinking Water: What Utah Homeowners Should Know
Microplastics have become one of the most talked-about emerging water-quality concerns. These tiny plastic particles have been detected throughout the environment—including in both tap and bottled drinking water.
Research into microplastics is still developing, and there is a lot scientists don’t yet know about their potential effects on human health. But growing interest in the issue has many homeowners asking a practical question: what can I do to improve the quality of the water my family drinks?
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic that can come from many different sources.
Some are manufactured at a very small size, while others form when larger plastic materials gradually break down. Plastic waste, synthetic fibers, tire wear and other everyday materials can all contribute particles to the environment.
These particles can eventually make their way into surface water, groundwater and drinking-water supplies.
According to a recent overview published by WC&P, microplastics have been detected in municipal water, private well water, bottled water, groundwater and surface water.
Are Microplastics in Drinking Water Dangerous?
This is where it’s important not to get ahead of the science.
Researchers are actively studying microplastics, but there are still significant questions about their occurrence, measurement and potential effects on human health.
The World Health Organization has reviewed research on human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics and identified important gaps in the available evidence.
In the United States, interest in the issue is growing as well. In 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency included microplastics as a group in its draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List, which helps guide research and future decisions regarding drinking-water contaminants.
In other words, microplastics are an emerging area of water-quality research, rather than something homeowners should panic about.
Can Water Filtration Reduce Microplastics?
Different treatment technologies can capture particles of different sizes.
Traditional drinking-water treatment processes can remove many larger particles, while finer filtration and membrane technologies can target smaller particles.
For homeowners particularly concerned about the water they drink, reverse osmosis (RO) is one treatment option worth understanding.
Reverse osmosis forces water through a very fine membrane, allowing it to reduce a wide range of dissolved substances and particles. WC&P notes that membrane technologies are particularly well suited to smaller microplastic particles and identifies reverse osmosis as having very high removal efficiency for microplastics. WC&P Online
That doesn’t mean every Utah home automatically needs an RO system. The right treatment depends on the home’s water source, water quality and what the homeowner actually wants to address.
Tap Water, Bottled Water or Treated Water?
Buying bottled water isn’t necessarily a simple solution to concerns about microplastics.
Microplastics have been detected in both bottled and tap water, which is one reason some homeowners choose to treat their drinking water at the point where they use it rather than relying primarily on bottled water. World Health Organization
A properly selected home drinking-water system can also provide a consistent source of treated water directly from the tap without continually purchasing and storing disposable bottles.
Understanding Your Home’s Water Comes First
There isn’t one water-treatment system that’s right for every household.
At Water Specialties, we’ve been treating Utah water since 1984. We help homeowners throughout Salt Lake City and surrounding Utah communities understand their water and select treatment based on their home’s specific needs.
Depending on those needs, that could include reverse osmosis, water softening, filtration or a combination of treatment technologies.
If you’re concerned about what’s in your drinking water—or simply want to improve its taste and quality—our team can help you determine an appropriate next step.
Want cleaner, better-tasting drinking water at home? Contact Water Specialties to learn about drinking-water treatment and reverse osmosis options for your Utah home.