About The Project
Pollution-prevention initiatives are often viewed through a global lens and as such, do not consider specific local issues, plastic contamination levels, or localized solutions. This project – part research, communications, and community-building – aims to bridge these gaps.
While there is much research being done on plastic pollution and specifically microplastics, there is still a lot we don’t know. Plastic touches all people in this valley regardless of age, gender, race, culture, ability, or income level. It behooves us all to understand what pollutants are entering our watershed, how they impact our daily lives, and what solutions exist to solve these problems.
From macro to micro
The global evidence and pervasiveness of plastics in virtually all freshwater systems indicates that the majority are anthropogenic in origin.
We expect that plastic use in the Okanagan follows global patterns of use and disposal and that any plastic pollution in the Okanagan environment would be due to the human population living, working, and visiting the Valley.
This project stands to benefit communities beyond those bordering Okanagan Lake, as plastic is a substance that touches all lives but that requires specific, localized solutions to mitigate.
The project team is working collaboratively with local communities (academia, First Nations, non-profits, etc) to build awareness of and spread the word about microplastics.
Because this is partially a scoping study to determine what, if any, microplastics exist in Okanagan Lake, this project will inherently be one to set the stage for future studies and programs.
Why microplastics?
The smallest of the fragments are designated as microplastics (<5mm in diameter) and can be invisible to the human eye, mistaken for organic debris, or even food for aquatic organisms from invertebrates such as zooplankton, to fish and birds.
The first step
In order to understand the consequences of plastics in our environment, the first step is to confirm that they are indeed present. If so, at what concentrations are we finding them?
Sampling for this project will focus on:
- Influent (pre-treated) wastewater at Kelowna’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
- Effluent (post-treatment) wastewater before discharge into Okanagan Lake
- Surface water of Okanagan Lake at five points
Surface water will be collected using a manta trawl, while wastewater will be collected in cooperation with the City of Kelowna.
We speculate that the late summer season with a high visitor and resident population will correspond with maximum water consumption and potential discharge into the lake.
While we will never be able to fully eradicate plastic from our lives, there are myriad solutions to mitigating the worst impacts of plastic pollution: solutions which this project hopes to illuminate, through this innovative research.
Sampling sights
lake
wastewater treatment plant
residents, visitors
what this project covers
scientific research
We’re following the lead of those that have come before and leaning on previous studies to inform our own sampling protocols.
communications & video
Good research is useless if not communicated well. We are committed to producing engaging video and web content to raise awareness and start conversations.
storytelling
The story of plastic is the story of people and societies. We’re looking forward to sharing the stories of the many people and groups working together on this project.
join the project
HELP US FUNDRAISE AND BUILD MOMENTUM
We are seeking contributions from individuals, businesses, and private donors who have a passion for protecting our shared watersheds. Your help will allow us to amplify this project, raise awareness, and fuel change-making.