Combined Effects of Treatment and Sewer Connections to Reduce Future Microplastic Emissions in Rivers

Global mitigation strategies are needed to reduce the amount of microplastics reaching our oceans via rivers. However, what strategies will be most effective, and when and where to implement these strategies is unclear. We applied the global water quality model MARINA-Plastics, covering 10,226 sub-basins worldwide, to assess the effects of different emission reduction strategies on microplastic inputs to rivers worldwide over the period 2010–2100, taking time steps of 10 years. We applied four scenarios: three focused on wastewater treatment technologies, ranging from high to low technology improvement levels, and one combining high technology in wastewater treatment with source-oriented measures. The results show that the combined strategy of high wastewater treatment and source-oriented measures is expected to be the most effective for reducing future microplastics in rivers on a global scale. By 2100, this combined strategy is expected to result in a 68% microplastic reduction in global rivers compared to 2010. African rivers will be the main hotspots, receiving more than five times more microplastics in 2100 than in 2010. In 2100, wear from car tires is expected to be the dominant source of microplastics globally. Our insights support the implementation of the European Green Deal and the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water).