Microplastics in water are a persistent environmental problem. The particles are stable, hardly degradable, and accumulate in the environment over many years. A major source of pollution is runoff from traffic surfaces, as tire wear is considered the largest single contributor of microplastics. In addition, other fine particles and solids are washed from the road into the street drainage system and often enter our water bodies untreated.

The microplastic generated by tire wear accumulates on road surfaces and is washed into street drains during rainfall. Without appropriate filtration, the microplastic contained in the stormwater flows through the road drainage system and eventually enters our surface waters.

Conventional street drains or catch basins are primarily designed for water drainage and, in some cases, for retaining coarse materials. CAPTURION, on the other hand, is a specialized street drain filter that specifically targets microplastics and retains fine particles from stormwater.

Yes. CAPTURION is designed for retrofitting street drains and can be integrated into existing catch basins. Extensive modifications to the road drainage system are generally not required.

CAPTURION is suitable for traffic areas with high levels of tire wear, such as heavily used roads, intersections, busy parking areas, industrial sites, and other areas within municipal stormwater drainage systems where microplastics need to be filtered and water protection enhanced.

TSS stands for Total Suspended Substances (including suspended, floating, and settling particles). This refers to all solid, undissolved particles present in the water that are large enough to be mechanically removed using a fine filter.

In the context of road and stormwater treatment, TSS typically includes::

• Road Deposit Sediments: sand, grit, and organic material.
• Tire wear particles: tiny rubber particles generated through contact between tires and the road surface.
• Microplastics: plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, often entering stormwater through abrasion or the breakdown of litter.

This value is a measure of the cleaning efficiency. It means that our filter system is capable of removing 97% of the total mass of suspended, floating, and settling particles (such as tire wear particles or microplastics) from the stormwater passing through it before the water enters the sewer system or surface waters. A high TSS retention rate is particularly important for fine particles, as many pollutants – such as heavy metals or oils – tend to adhere to these solids.

Suspended solids such as tire wear particles are among the largest sources of microplastics in our water bodies. High TSS levels in water cause turbidity, stress aquatic ecosystems, and can carry toxic compounds into the environment. By using highly efficient filters, you actively contribute to the protection of water bodies and the preservation of water quality.

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to protect and improve the ecological and chemical status of surface waters. Measures to reduce pollutant inputs from road traffic – such as capturing microplastics from tire wear – make an important contribution to this goal. Street drain filters can help reduce pollutants in stormwater originating from traffic surfaces at an early stage.

The performance of the microplastic filter has been demonstrated internationally under real municipal operating conditions. In real-world operation in Copenhagen, 129% more Total Suspended Substances (TSS) and 127% more tire wear particles (measured via the SBR marker for 6–250 µm) were retained. The comparison was made between filtered and unfiltered street drains under identical conditions. The evaluations also show that the system works exceptionally well even in narrow and shallow drainage infrastructures. To date, all filters in Copenhagen have been operating without any malfunctions.
[1] According to TU Berlin, URBANFILTER Copenhagen – Final Report, 2025.

GKD successfully had CAPTURION tested in accordance with the approval procedure of the German Institute for Construction Technology, which provides planning and approval certainty for all stakeholders in municipal drainage. The testing confirms suitability for load categories I, II, and III according to DWA‑A 102‑2 and the NRW separation directive. The verified retention rate demonstrates effective source reduction.

Microplastic particles can accumulate in sediments within water bodies and alter their physical properties. They are also ingested by invertebrates, fish, and other aquatic organisms. The exact consequences are not yet fully understood, but studies provide sufficient evidence to suspect potential health impacts on humans as well.

Municipalities and businesses can achieve significantly higher retention rates of 97% for TSS and 77% for TSS 63 when using CAPTURION in all street drains equipped with sediment traps in accordance with DIN 4052. With regard to tire wear, the use of CAPTURION is particularly relevant in urban areas and other hotspots such as intersections, traffic lights, and heavily trafficked roads, where the highest microplastic emissions occur. By retrofitting street drainage systems with CAPTURION on a broad scale, the pollution of surface waters with microplastics and other solids can be significantly reduced.