UK Legal Limit
No UK limit set
WHO Guideline
No guideline value set
EU Standard
Monitoring required from 2026
Primary Sources
Textiles, tyre wear, plastics
The UK has no legal limit for Microplastics in drinking water. The WHO recommends a guideline of No guideline value set and the EU has set a standard of Monitoring required from 2026. Microplastics are an emerging contaminant with no UK legal limit. The EU will require monitoring from 2026, but health effects remain uncertain.
The health effects of microplastics in drinking water are not yet fully understood. The WHO concluded in 2019 that microplastics in drinking water do not appear to pose a health risk at current levels, but acknowledged significant knowledge gaps. Concerns centre on the potential for microplastics to carry harmful chemicals (such as plasticisers and persistent organic pollutants) into the body, and on possible inflammatory responses to very small particles. Research is ongoing and regulatory positions may change as evidence develops.
Microplastics enter UK water sources from multiple pathways. Major sources include synthetic textile fibres released during washing, tyre wear particles washed from roads into rivers, and the breakdown of larger plastic waste in the environment. Wastewater treatment plants remove the majority of microplastics but cannot capture all particles, especially the smallest ones. Atmospheric fallout of airborne microplastics also contributes to contamination of reservoirs and catchments.
| Jurisdiction | Limit / Guideline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK (DWI) | No legal limit | The UK has not yet set a statutory limit. Guidance is voluntary. |
| WHO | No guideline value set | World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality |
| EU | Monitoring required from 2026 | EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184). The UK no longer automatically mirrors EU standards post-Brexit. |
The UK currently has no statutory limit for Microplastics. This means water companies are not legally required to monitor or report levels, even though both the WHO and EU have set guidelines. Campaigners and scientists have called on the UK government to introduce binding limits.
Reverse osmosis
A membrane filtration process that removes up to 99% of contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure. Highly effective but produces some wastewater.
Carbon block filters
Dense blocks of activated carbon that physically block particles and adsorb chemicals. More effective than granular carbon for lead and other heavy metals.
Activated carbon
Porous carbon material (from charcoal or coconut shell) that adsorbs contaminants as water passes through. Best for organic compounds and some heavy metals.
These list microplastics among what they reduce. Check your own report first — a filter is only worth buying for a contaminant your supply actually has.
Listed to reduce Microplastics
Doulton HIP Ultracarb
Under-Sink Filter · NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53
Typical price
£120approx.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Listed to reduce Microplastics
TAPP Water EcoPro
Countertop · SGS tested
Typical price
£60approx.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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