In a major breakthrough that could significantly improve access to safe drinking water across India, researchers at the IIT Guwahati have developed an innovative, low-cost, and energy-efficient community-scale water treatment system. Designed to remove fluoride and iron—two of the most common and hazardous groundwater contaminants—IIT Guwahati water treatment innovation processes up to 20,000 litres of water daily, at an operating cost of just INR 20 per 1,000 litres.
A National Health Emergency
Fluoride contamination from natural sources and human activities like agriculture and industrial processes affects millions in states like Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Gujarat. Long term exposure to high levels of fluoride can cause skeletal fluorosis, a condition where bones harden and joints become immobile. Excessive iron in groundwater can stain water, damage organs over time and corrode infrastructure.
The new system reduces iron and fluoride in groundwater by 94% and 89% respectively, both within the limits prescribed by Indian drinking water safety standards.
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IIT Guwahati Water Treatment Technology
Led by Prof. Mihir Kumar Purkait from IIT Guwahati’s Department of Chemical Engineering, the team designed a 4-step process:
- Aeration – Oxygen is added to the water using an aerator, which starts removing dissolved iron.
- Electrocoagulation – A mild electric current is passed through aluminum electrodes, dissolving the metal and releasing charged ions. These ions attract and bind with contaminants like fluoride and iron.
- Flocculation and Settling – The bonded contaminants form large clumps or “flocs” which are thickened and allowed to settle in a dedicated chamber.
- Filtration – The settled water undergoes final purification through a multi-layer filter of coal, sand and gravel, removing any remaining impurities.
This is not only scientifically proven but also practical and scalable for rural and underserved areas.
Field tested for 12 weeks in real environment. A pilot project has already been deployed in Changsari, Assam with support from Public Health Engineering Department of Assam and executed by Kakati Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
IIT Guwahati Water Treatment Innovation is Affordable and Long Lasting
One of the best part of the system is its affordability. Treating water at INR 20 per 1,000 litres makes it viable for large scale use, especially in areas where large infrastructure is not available. The system has a life of 15 years and requires only semi-annual electrode replacement. A built in safety mechanism alerts the user when maintenance is due so long term reliability with minimal supervision.
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Vision for a Sustainable Future
Looking forward the team is exploring integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind to power the system. Interestingly the electrocoagulation process also produces hydrogen gas which the team is investigating for use as auxiliary energy source.
Smart technologies like real time sensors and automated controls are being considered to minimize manual intervention—critical for remote deployment. The team is also evaluating hybrid approaches by combining their system with other treatment technologies to create a fully decentralized water purification model adaptable to different geographic and water quality conditions.
The paper has been published in the prestigious ACS ES&T Water journal co-authored by Prof. Purkait and his team which includes post-doctoral researchers Dr. Anweshan and Dr. Piyal Mondal and research scholar Mukesh Bharti. Their work not only provides a solution to India’s water pollution problem but also puts IIT Guwahati at the forefront of environmental innovation.
Conclusion
In a country where safe drinking water is not evenly distributed, IIT Guwahati’s new water treatment system can be a game changer. With its cost effectiveness, scientific backing and practicality the technology can transform the health and livelihood of millions—especially in fluoride affected and iron contaminated areas.
As India looks towards sustainable and inclusive growth such innovations show the role of academic institutions in solving some of the country’s biggest challenges.
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