Stormwater is increasingly being utilized for purposes beyond simply watering green spaces, cleaning public squares and parking lots, or flushing toilets. There is growing interest in developing technologies that allow for the use of stormwater across various industries, including recreational applications. One promising innovation in this field is the SwimmInRain technology, a method for utilizing rainwater in swimming pool installations that aligns with the principles of a circular economy. However, to assess the effectiveness of newly developed solutions, it is essential to understand the potential contaminants present in stormwater and its origin. To evaluate the effectiveness of new collection and treatment solutions, it is necessary to understand the potential contaminants present in stormwater, with particular emphasis on organic micropollutants and microplastics, which can enter rainwater not only from the atmosphere itself but also from rainwater collection elements. This study aimed to identify those micropollutants in rainwater treated using the SwimmInRain technology, an innovative method of using rainwater in swimming pool installations. Rainwater was collected from the roofs of industrial buildings in Spring 2025, straight from tanks made of HDPE with a capacity of 1000 L. The presence of microplastics and organic micropollutants was detected in each of the samples taken. The primary source of microplastic contamination is the high-density HDPE water storage tanks. Approximately 70% of the identified microplastic particles were blue fibers, corresponding to the typical color of HDPE tanks. Additionally, other types of microplastics, such as white and transparent fibers, were also found, indicating possible additional sources of contamination or degradation processes. The research conducted confirmed the hypothesis that microplastics are a source of other micropollutants and their gradual decomposition leads to their release into rainwater.
This research was financed by the National Centre for Research and Development, No. LIDER13/0126/2022