Performance of Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plants in Removing Microplastics in East Java, Indonesia
			
	
 
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				1
				Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil, Planning, and Geo-Engineering,
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Kampus ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia
				 
			 
						
				2
				Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Planning Engineering,
Institut Teknologi Adhi Tama Surabaya, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia
				 
			 
										
				
				
		
		 
			
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
							
										    		
    			 
    			
    				    					Corresponding author
    					    				    				
    					Yulinah  Trihadiningrum   
    					Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil, Planning, and Geo-Engineering,
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Kampus ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia
    				
 
    			
				 
    			 
    		 		
			
												 
		
	 
		
 
 
J. Ecol. Eng. 2023; 24(6):129-143
		
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Microplastic (MP) has been a new emerging contaminant in the municipal water supply. A water treatment process is a key to producing high-quality and safe drinking water. The performance of a conventional drinking water treatment plant (CDWTP) to remove MPs is questionable. This research aimed to investigate the performance of 2 CDWTPs in East Java in removing MPs. Full-stage treatment in two CDWTPs consisted of intake, pre-sedimentation, coagulation-flocculation, sedimentation, sand filter, and disinfection units. Five L water samples were collected with a grab sampling technique in the sampling points of intake and outlet of each water treatment unit. MP abundance and characteristics in each sample were determined using a Sunshine SZM-45T-B1 stereomicroscope and a Nicolet i10 FTIR spectrophotometer. Total MP removal efficiencies in CDWTPs I and II were 66 and 62%, respectively. The coagulation-flocculation unit performed the highest MP removal efficiencies (56%). The MP with 1-350 μm size achieved lower removal efficiencies (33-53%) than that with 351-<5,000 μm size (53-76%). The removal efficiencies of fiber, fragment, and film in the CDWTPs were 61-65%; 86-100%; and 100%, respectively.