Bihar Brothers Develop Magnetic Filtration for Toxic Water

In 2026, WaterAid India reported alarming arsenic levels in Bihar's drinking water, reaching 704.4 ppb in Simri block—over 70 times the safe guideline of 10 ppb. This invisible danger, known to cause skin lesions and cancers from long-term exposure, affects over 10 million rural residents across 50 blocks in 11 Bihar districts, where 7,164 samples showed arsenic above 50 µg/L.

Driven by this urgent crisis, brothers Arpit and Abhijeet developed an innovative magnetic filtration technology. Originating from a school project at Bihar Bal Bhawan Kilkari, their system targets arsenic at the molecular level through magnetic separation, avoiding conventional chemicals or consumables.

After years of rigorous testing, the technology achieved significant success in field pilots in Bhojpur and Buxar, reducing arsenic levels to below 2 ppb, a finding validated by CSIR. Through their startup, Navmarg Research & Innovation, the brothers have since deployed their systems in schools and communities, delivering 3.19 million litres of arsenic-safe water across 13 sites.

Why it matters: This innovation provides a crucial, sustainable solution to a widespread public health crisis, offering safe drinking water to millions.

Editor's note: The article effectively summarizes the public health crisis and the technical solution developed by the brothers as presented in the source.