The project addressed the challenge of arsenic-contaminated groundwater, a
public health crisis affecting millions in India. Its primary aim was to deploy
four MARU-L series Magnetic Arsenic Removal Units – electricity-free, low maintenance
water filtration systems based on molecular magnetic
technology – to provide arsenic-safe drinking water to approximately 1,000
rural beneficiaries. These community-scale units were fully fabricated,
internally tested, and made field-ready during the Fellowship period.
Significant technical milestones were achieved, including the redesign of the
magnetic assembly assembly to enhance field safety and arsenic removal
efficiency. Laboratory tests confirmed the system’s ability to consistently
reduce arsenic concentrations to well below permissible limits.
In parallel, a full-scale pilot of the MARU–XL4500 system, based on METAL®
molecular magnetic technology, was successfully installed on 25 July 2025 at
Government Middle School, Udwantnagar Block, Bhojpur District, Bihar.
Operating at a high flow rate of 4500 liters per hour, it can remove arsenic
concentrations up to 2500 μg/L. In just 34 operational days, the unit delivered
over 27,000 liters of arsenic-free water, benefiting 1,175 school students. This
system also served as a simulation platform for molecular-scale studies and
performance testing.
The deployment was supported by the ICICI Foundation, Bihar Bal Bhawan
Kilkari, and Samsung CSR Solve for Tomorrow, demonstrating the
technology's real-world effectiveness and community acceptance. However,
due to delays in administrative site allocation from the Karnataka Rural
Drinking Water and Sanitation Design and the time-intensive redesign of the
magnet modules, the new MARU-L units could not be installed during the
Fellowship, which aimed to place four units in arsenic-affected areas of
Raichur and Yadgir districts. Deployment has now been scheduled for the
earliest available window post-Fellowship, with approvals expected shortly.
Community sites have already been identified in coordination with state
water authorities.
Despite the postponed installation, the Fellowship period advanced the
project’s readiness: hardware was completed, technology was strengthened,
and outreach with local stakeholders laid the groundwork for impact. Once
deployed, the MARU-L units are expected to provide over 100,000 liters of
arsenic-free drinking water in their first few months, directly safeguarding
lives in some of the most underserved regions. This report documents the
science behind the intervention, the work accomplished, challenges faced, and
the roadmap forward, offering a model of research-led, socially committed
innovation.