Community Results
What We've Found So Far
Each image is a fluorescence microscopy capture of an LA tap water sample. Every bright particle is plastic.
Click any image to see full details. These are real samples from LA homes.
Why This Matters
The city tests your water for lead and bacteria. Nobody tests for microplastics. These particles are 50x smaller than a human hair — invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by consumer water testers.
By mapping results across neighborhoods, we're building something that doesn't exist yet: a detailed, open picture of microplastic contamination in LA's water. The more people contribute, the clearer the picture gets.
As seen on Reddit
“I've now tested tap water for microplastics in 20+ locations across West LA. Here's the contamination map.”
“I refuse to pay $600 to test my tap water for microplastics, so I built a fluorescence scope in my garage”
What LA residents are saying
“So basically the water is fine until it reaches the house, but some houses have better internal pipes than others”
“But what do you suggest folks do? Most filters are plastic and fit into plastic jugs. I would be surprised if they were releasing more plastic than they remove!”
“I have a Pure Water Products RO system. The holding tank has some kind of rubberized structure that the water sits in. I'm always wondering what this might be contributing in terms of microplastics… I would love to bring you a sample.”
“Let me know if you want any from the valley”
About This Project
I started testing my own tap water for microplastics using fluorescence microscopy — the same method marine biologists use to detect plastic in ocean water. Then neighbors wanted theirs tested too. Then people on Reddit. Now we're building the most detailed neighborhood-level map of microplastic contamination in any US city.
Every sample someone contributes adds a new data point. The more neighborhoods we cover, the clearer the picture gets for everyone.
All results are published openly on this map. Methodology is based on protocols used by the EPA, NOAA, and NIST for environmental microplastic detection.
How To Read Results
Low
Within normal range. Your water source looks good.
Elevated
Moderate levels. Consider a higher-quality filter.
High
Significant contamination. Your filter may need replacing.
Particle counts are per 100ml sample. No federal safety standard currently exists for microplastics in drinking water.