Damning articles, though the main source of microplastics is from manufacturing (spills), tyres, road markings and from washing of clothes made from synthetic materials.

From the BBC, Wastewater is ‘polluting rivers with microplastic’

Untreated wastewater “routinely released into UK rivers” is creating microplastic hotspots on riverbeds.

That is the conclusion of a study in Greater Manchester, which revealed high concentrations of plastic immediately downstream of treatment works.

The team behind the research concluded: untreated wastewater was the “key source” of plastic pollution.

The water company that operates along the river the scientists studied said it didn’t “fully accept” the findings.

Also in the Guardian, Water firms are main source of microplastics in UK rivers, study says.

Research says discharge of untreated sewage and wastewater during dry spells to blame.

Water companies are causing high levels of microplastic contamination in UK rivers by discharging untreated sewage and wastewater into the water system, new research reveals.

As pressure builds on water companies, the Environment Agency and ministers to tackle the way water firms release untreated effluent into rivers, scientists have for the first time linked the practice to microplastic pollution.