Arsenic in groundwater causes health problems in India, including cancers, nerve and heart diseases and lower thinking skills in children. The problem affects alluvial regions such as West Bengal and Bihar, and other areas of the country.
Two brothers, Arpit Kumar and Abhijeet Kumar from Bihar, began a school project and studied why many technological solutions fail. They developed a magnetic, chemical-free method called METAL and built a unit named MARU, refining the design by 2019 in their school laboratory.
The team founded Navmarg Research & Innovation Pvt. Ltd. in 2023. They report they have purified over 300,000 litres of water and helped more than 4,000 lives. The founders say MARU is low-cost and easy to maintain.
Difficult words
- groundwater — water that is under the ground
- alluvial — soil or land made by river deposits
- magnetic — relating to magnets or magnetism
- chemical-free — not using chemicals or chemical substances
- purify — to make water or something very cleanpurified
- refine — to improve a design or a processrefining
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you trust a magnetic, chemical-free unit to clean your water? Why or why not?
- What are the benefits of a low-cost, easy-to-maintain water unit in a village?
- How could a school project help a community with clean water?
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