Field-Deployable Monitoring for Direct Potable Reuse: Expanding Water Reuse Safety Through Distributed Microplastic and Nanoplastic Detection

Water reuse, including Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), is an increasingly critical strategy for addressing water scarcity in regions such as Colorado. While treatment technologies have advanced significantly, monitoring frameworks have not evolved at the same pace—particularly for emerging contaminants such as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). Current detection methods rely heavily on centralized laboratory workflows that are costly, time-intensive, and low-frequency, limiting their utility for real-time operational decision-making and public communication. This paper proposes a complementary monitoring paradigm: field-deployable, distributed detection of MPs and NPs in intact liquid samples using rapid optical interaction methods (e.g., smartphone-compatible imaging with proprietary reagents and AI/computer vision analysis). By enabling high-frequency, scalable testing across reuse systems, this approach enhances transparency, supports operational insight, and strengthens public trust in DPR systems. The integration of distributed field measurements with centralized laboratory validation represents a practical pathway toward comprehensive monitoring coverage for modern water reuse infrastructure.