New ways for water without microplastics: Maike jumps in at the deep end

Since September 2024, Maike Gruber has been asking herself the question at Wasser 3.0: What can we all do today to protect our waters from microplastics and other pollutants? Find out how she got to where she is today in our blog.

Jumping into something new: A sports scientist at Wasser 3.0

Hello, I'm Maike. I have a master's degree in sports science, and until now, I've mainly worked in the sports industry. I first got to know Wasser 3.0 at a water day I organized for schools. Katrin's persuasiveness and passion for the cause made a lasting impression on me and made me think about a world full of microplastics. When I was offered the chance to take part in Wasser 3.0, I took the plunge.

Since September 2024, I have been actively involved in Wasser 3.0 in the field of education and communication. I want to play my part in getting people to think about solutions to the environmental problem of microplastics. Improving people's lives sustainably has always been my core professional goal.

What is WASoMI Lab?

Connecting worlds - building bridges or a slightly different view of the Wasser 3.0 world

As a career changer in the microplastics industry, I learn something new every day. For the WASoMI educational project in particular, this is even an advantage: my “non-specialist glasses” help to prepare descriptions and learning material in such a way that the knowledge is accessible and understandable for everyone.

I love nature, but for a long time microplastics were not a topic that I put any thought into or informed myself about. In my experience, many people feel the same way. I was first made aware of it through my family environment; microplastics are not a very pleasant or harmonious topic to discuss with the family at the dinner table.

But ignorance does not help to solve or get to grips with the problem of microplastics.

Wet feets and Wasser 3.0 tasks

During my first attempt to take a sample from a river using an analytical kit, I had to learn to take the safety instructions in the manual seriously. I slipped straight off and stood with both feet in the ice-cold running water. However, it's really easy and can be done by anyone. And my sample made it to the laboratory where it was analyzed. The data is then displayed in the Global Map of Microplastics. An ingenious move - the concentrations are directly comparable and conspicuous. The data in the Global Map of Microplastics is now being presented to politicians and businesses, as we not only need clarity on microplastic pollution, but also active action to reduce microplastic inputs.

All relevant information about water, wastewater and microplastics as well as detection and removal using the Wasser 3.0 processes can already be viewed online and is always kept up to date.

To be honest, I've never seen anything like the Global Map of Microplastics before. It is a real innovation in the field of microplastics. The map is filled with existing data and collected data and thus provides a real and comparable assessment of the concentration of microplastics in our waters for the first time. It's worth taking a look. Because something happens here almost every day and new data points are continuously added.

Maike Gruber

Small steps - big leaps

In the coming weeks and months, I will be focusing more and more on the question of how we can communicate knowledge about water and microplastics to different target groups. Adequate preparation of information and communication, especially towards schools, is key here. Thanks to the standardized sampling procedure, anyone can theoretically test water bodies for microplastics in a scientifically sound and comparable way.

This year, WASoMI Lab has some exciting projects coming up in which we are taking a close look at rivers. For the first time, entire rivers will be sampled over a short period of time, from the mouth to the source. Pupils and other interested parties are helping us with this. What a great participatory project!

I am also part of the organizational team of the OPEN HOUSE, which will take place on 26/27 June 2025 at the EW Landau sewage treatment plant.

There are many challenges waiting for me, so it is all the more important to maintain my work-life balance.

Where leisure and work merge

In my free time, I mainly spend time with my family. I love being outdoors, hiking for days on end is like balm for the soul. In everyday life, I also enjoy a round of yoga or walking along the waterways where I live. Crafting, working and organizing - that's my daily routine.

It's important to me to continue promoting Wasser 3.0 so that my children also grow up knowing about microplastics and learn how to use them responsibly from their parents.