Feasibility studies on industrial wastewater
31. March 2026
Microplastic Detection: New Study, New Book, Clear Solutions
15. May 2026
The Neckar is calling. Will you answer?
More than 300 km of river: this summer, the Neckar will be systematically mapped for microplastics from source to mouth – and everyone can take part.
One river. One opportunity. Your decision.
Imagine this: in a single weekend, people are standing along the Neckar’s banks. In Villingen-Schwenningen, where the river is still narrow. In Heidelberg, where it flows beneath the castle. In Mannheim, just before it meets the Rhine. Everyone is doing the same thing: collecting water samples. Measuring. Documenting. Together, they are making history.
That is NECKAR TOTAL – 367 km in 5 days. Made possible by the German Postcode Lottery. And it needs you.
The Neckar is home to more than four million people. With NECKAR TOTAL, we prove that real water protection succeeds when society gets involved.
The problem we cannot see
Microplastics are everywhere – and that’s exactly what makes them so insidious. These tiny particles are invisible to the naked eye, yet their impact is real: they accumulate in aquatic organisms, move through the food chain, and threaten entire ecosystems. The Neckar, as the fourth-largest tributary of the Rhine, is affected. But:
No one knows exactly how much – and where.
Rivers of this length have never been systematically and comprehensively studied before. Too complex, too costly, and too time-consuming for a single research team. But not for a community.
The solution: science for everyone
Wasser 3.0 has developed a fast, efficient, and comparatively low-cost fluorescence marker technology that makes microplastic particles visible – quickly, in a standardized way, and without the need for laboratory equipment. This allows trained citizens to perform the exact same measurements as scientists.
The data is recorded in real time via the Wasser 3.0 app and flows directly into the Global Map of Microplastics – a publicly accessible, worldwide database.
What happens in 5 days:
- 120 sampling sites located every 3 km along the entire Neckar
- Up to 20 schools with over 1,000 students acting as citizen scientists
- Up to 10 NGOs and civic initiatives coordinating locally
- In the planning stages: 4 major public events in Stuttgart, Heilbronn, Heidelberg, and Mannheim
- All data made freely and publicly accessible
What happens next – and why it matters
NECKAR TOTAL is not an end in itself. After sampling comes scientific analysis: identifying hotspots, locating sources of pollution, and developing concrete recommendations for municipalities, water utilities, and educational institutions.
The methodology will be documented as a blueprint – for the Rhine, the Elbe, the Danube. For rivers across Europe.
What begins on the Neckar can be repeated anywhere. That is the true scale of this project.
We are delighted that, thanks to our participants, we can support this impactful project. Together, we stand up for people and nature – The Power of Postcodes.
No prior knowledge. No hassle. Big impact.
You don’t have to be a scientist to take part. You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference. All you need is a bit of time and the willingness to stand by your river and measure.
The sampling period is from June 8, 2026, to June 10, 2026.
Wasser 3.0 will train all participants in an online session on May 19, 2026, and provide all materials free of charge.
Whether you’re a school, a club, an initiative, or simply an engaged neighbor – this is for you. The Neckar belongs to all of us. And so does its protection.
