Open Microplastics Dataset
Every sample we've tested.
One public map.
We're building the world's largest open dataset on microplastics in drinking water — tap, filtered, bottled, baby bottle, whatever you want to test. Every result public. Every photo raw. No paywall, no signup, no utility PR.
Real LA tap water. Every bright speck indicates plastic.
Our mission
Trust, but verify. We make expensive lab tests affordable so you can see what's really in your water — not just what you're told.
Community data — 100% public
LA's First Microplastic Map
Every pin is a real sample from a real home. Tap a pin to see the particle count and fluorescence image. The more people test, the clearer the picture gets for everyone.
Data updates in real time as new results are added · View full dataset →
Under the lens
This Is What Plastic Looks Like in Water
Drag the slider. Every bright particle is a microplastic, detected via Nile Red fluorescence staining.
Plastic Detected
Clean Sample
← Drag to compare →
Left: Contaminated: 1-year-old plastic water bottle. Right: Clean: Properly filtered tap water.
Here's what the research says
You Deserve To Know This
NEJM 2024
Microplastics found in arterial plaque of heart patients
Blood & Organs
Detected in human blood, liver, kidneys, placenta, and breast milk
Fall 2026
California SB 1422 will require utilities to test tap water for microplastics
The science is moving fast. We think you should have the information to make your own decisions — not wait for regulation to catch up.
Know What You're Drinking in 3 Steps
About 10 minutes of hands-on time. No lab. No mailing samples. No waiting.
Stain & Filter at Home
Add the included Nile Red stain to a glass of tap water. Push it through the filter. The kit includes everything you need for two complete tests.
Shine the Blue Light
Microplastics glow bright pink under the included blue LED. You see it immediately, with your own eyes — no lab required.
Snap & Get Your Count
Photograph your filter. Our system counts particles and adds your result to the map — with a severity rating and how you compare to other homes.
Open data
What 50+ Samples Tell Us
Every result is public. This is what LA tap water looks like across neighborhoods, pipes, and filtration systems.
Distribution
Percentiles
By Neighborhood
What we've found
What LA Tap Water Actually Looks Like
Those bright specks? Microplastics, lit up by Nile Red fluorescence staining. Each image is a real sample from an LA home.
Click any image to see full details.
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
“I'm a plumber in the LA area. 99% of plumbers use PEX (Poly Ethylene Crosslink) piping to re-pipe old houses. The oxidants in the water — chlorine, chloramine — cause extreme degradation, and the pipes literally release parts of themselves into the water. This is accelerated 10 fold on hot water and even more if there's a recirculating pump.”
“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”
Browse by Neighborhood
23 neighborhoods tested so far.
How To Read Results
Low
Among the cleanest samples in our dataset. Looking good.
Moderate
Some particles detected. Filtration can help.
High
Higher than most samples we've tested. Worth looking into filtration.
Very High
Way above most samples in our dataset. Filtration strongly recommended.
Particle counts are reported per 100mL sample. Data reflects individual household samples and may not represent municipal water system conditions. No federal safety standard currently exists for microplastics in drinking water.
After you get results
What Do People Actually Do With This?
🤔
Some find out they're fine
Their fridge filter or tap filter is doing the job. $50 for peace of mind — and they stop worrying.
🔎
Some test specific sources
Tap vs. filter. Cold vs. hot. A baby bottle vs. the tap it was filled from. They figure out exactly where the problem is — and where it isn't.
💡
Some upgrade their filtration
But now they know what they actually need — instead of guessing and overspending on a system they didn't need.
We're not a filter company. We don't sell solutions. We give you the data so you can make an informed decision.
Add a sample to the map.
We're sending free test kits to SoCal field study participants. Run the test on whatever water you want — tap, filter, bottled, baby bottle — and your sample joins the public map.
Join 50+ samples already on the map — and help build the world's largest consumer microplastics dataset.