Micropollutants and emerging contaminants are usually discussed as water quality issues that need to be managed at the final stages of wastewater treatment. In practice, however, these compounds also affect how treatment processes perform, influencing operational stability, energy demand and, indirectly, greenhouse gas emissions. As regulatory standards tighten and expectations around low-emission treatment grow, it is becoming clear that relying only on end-of-pipe solutions may not be sufficient. This poster explores an alternative way of thinking, where source control of micropollutants is treated as both a compliance and climate-related strategy. Drawing on recent literature and operational examples, the work looks at how upstream interventions—such as improved trade effluent management, decentralised pre-treatment and the use of nature-based buffering systems—can reduce the burden placed on centralised wastewater treatment works. By lowering contaminant loads earlier in the system, these approaches can support more stable biological processes, improve nutrient removal performance and enhance the viability of resource recovery, particularly within anaerobic digestion. The poster argues that integrating source control into design and operational decision-making offers a more resilient and practical pathway towards zero-pollution goals, while also supporting wider ambitions for circular and low-carbon wastewater management.