Bihar Brothers Invent Machine to Clean Arsenic-Tainted Water
In 2026, WaterAid India revealed alarmingly high arsenic levels in Bihar's Simri block, reaching 704.4 ppb — over 70 times the safe guideline of 10 ppb. The invisible threat, which has no taste or smell and is linked to skin lesions and cancers, has left many families reliant on contaminated hand pumps. Durga Yadav from Bhikchu Ka Dera tragically shared that her husband died of stomach cancer and her brother-in-law this year, yet the hand pump remains her sole water source. Across 11 Bihar districts, research found arsenic levels above 50 µg/L in 7,164 out of 66,623 samples, putting over 10 million rural residents at risk.
Responding to this urgent crisis, brothers Arpit and Abhijeet embarked on a school project at Bihar Bal Bhawan Kilkari to develop a solution. Their innovative magnetic filtration technology was designed to target arsenic at the molecular level. Crucially, this system employs magnetic separation, eliminating the need for conventional consumables or chemicals, offering a sustainable approach to water purification.
Following years of rigorous testing, the technology transitioned beyond the classroom. Field pilots conducted in Bhojpur and Buxar successfully reduced arsenic concentrations to below 2 ppb, a significant achievement validated by CSIR. This effective system has since been deployed in schools and communities, providing safe drinking water where it is desperately needed.
Today, through their startup, Navmarg Research & Innovation, Arpit and Abhijeet have delivered 3.19 million litres of arsenic-safe water across 13 sites. For the brothers, this endeavor has always transcended mere machine building, focusing on providing real alternatives to communities facing a silent health crisis, ensuring safe drinking water is not just a promise.
Why it matters: This innovation offers a tangible solution to a widespread public health crisis.
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