West County Wastewater advances pioneering microplastics removal pilot with Amazon backing

West County Wastewater advances pioneering microplastics removal pilot with Amazon backingThe California utility will deploy an automated "artificial root" filtration system to intercept microplastics and assess PFAS correlations, utilizing third-party grants to offset operational costs.

WCW authorized a $49,990 contract with PolyGone Systems to install the automated "Poly Pod" microplastics filtration array.

The 5- to 10-year pilot is heavily subsidized, with Imagine H2O providing $75,000 for installation and Amazon committing up to $250,000 for long-term maintenance and sampling.

The District aims to evaluate the technology's effectiveness on microplastics as small as 100 microns and establish potential correlations with PFAS compounds.

The Board emphasized strict contractual controls over data rights and public communications regarding the third-party funders.

West County Wastewater District (WCW) in California has greenlit a pioneering microplastics removal pilot project, partnering with PolyGone Systems to deploy novel filtration technology. Approved by the Board of Directors on February 18, 2026, the initiative marks a first-of-its-kind deployment on the West Coast, following PolyGone's inaugural pilot launched in late 2024 at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority in New Jersey. The pilot will utilize PolyGone's "Poly Pod," a fully automated system featuring an "artificial root" filtration array designed to capture microplastic pellets, fragments, films, and fibers as small as 100 microns. The technology has shown early promise at the New Jersey facility, where an array of 720 artificial root filters has successfully removed an estimated 520 million microplastics from a plant treating 40 million gallons per day. At WCW, the unit will be installed in the plant's effluent channel to intercept microplastics before discharge, representing part of PolyGone's broader expansion that includes three new commercial deployments signed for 2026. Originally envisioned as a manual system, the technology has evolved into an automated unit. This shift, along with new funding partners, significantly reduced the financial burden on the utility. WCW's financial commitment is capped at $49,990 for installation and commissioning. The bulk of the project's costs will be covered by external grants totaling $325,000: Imagine H2O is contributing $75,000 for installation, while Amazon has committed $25,000 annually for up to 10 years to cover maintenance, filter replacements, and laboratory sampling. According to Aaron Winer, WCW's Director of Water Quality and Resource Recovery, the 5- to 10-year pilot aims to address microplastics as an emerging contaminant of concern. The District also hopes to establish a nexus between microplastics and PFAS compounds. Additionally, the project will assess microplastics concentrating in external return flows from the East Bay Municipal Utility District's reverse osmosis system, which treats WCW effluent for the Chevron refinery. During the meeting, the Board raised questions regarding the intent and data rights of the third-party funders. General Counsel Nicole Witt confirmed that the contract will be exclusively between WCW and PolyGone Systems. "They will not be beneficiaries of this contract," Witt stated, assuring the Board that Amazon and Imagine H2O would not have rights to the District's data under the agreement. The General Manager also emphasized that PolyGone must coordinate all project communications and outreach through WCW's communications manager. Installation of the pilot system is anticipated for mid-to-late 2026, contingent on the completion of the District's ongoing Clean and Green infrastructure project to ensure the pilot does not interfere with plant operations.