MInimizing CROssborder water contamination of microPLASTICS

The MICROPLASTICS project focuses on reducing water pollution from microplastics and protecting natural habitats in the cross-border area. By identifying pollution sources and measuring contamination levels in ecosystems (rivers, canals, and wastewater treatment plants), the project aims to set up a monitoring system and create recommendations for enhanced water and environmental protection. Sites of interest include Gornje Podunavlje, Begečka Jama, the Gemenc Nature Park, and Riha Oxbow Lake. Pilot actions will design and test filtration solutions for wastewater treatment, with the goal of replicating successful results across the region. Additionally, school children, public officials, experts, and the general public will participate in awareness-raising activities, helping to promote environmental responsibility and reduce microplastic contamination in water and soil.

A set of outcomes is planned for achieving the project goal.

First outcome will result in an implemented project and achieved communication objective, this way ensuring long term cooperation between partners and efficient capitalization of all the project results.

Second outcome will result in enabled partner organisations/public experts to collect and process acquired samples. Acquired equipment necessary for collecting and processing of the open surface water, wastewater, and sediments samples, will result in conducted measurements finally resulting in developed protocols for future activities in monitoring of water ecosystem pollution on microplastics. Procured equipment, developed protocols and educated personnel/public health experts will ensure the sustainability of the result after the project ends while the partner organisations will use these results within their daily operations benefiting the community in the long term.

Third outcome will result in implemented pilot action with developed adequate method on filtration of waste water and developed scalable filter for 2 wastewater treatment plants in the CBC area with the measurement on efficiency of applied solution. This will be followed by mapped wastewater treatment plants in the CBC area. Durability of result is within using the filters after the project ends benefiting the community and nature while the measurements and mapping will ensure sustainability as it will provide new research knowledge and potential for replication of the pilot action results.

Fourth outcome will result in raised awareness and educated target groups, namely school children, public officials, enviro NGOs and the general public on the scope of microplastic pollution in the CBC area, but also on the negative impact that microplastics pollution has on nature. Educated target groups will ensure the durability of results while developed
educational/informational material and ICT platform will exploit results continuously.