India's Nuclear Research Programme Develops Advanced Water Purification Technologies

Guwahati : Every monsoon, floods across Assam leave behind a familiar and dangerous aftermath — contaminated drinking water. Now, a technology originally developed through India’s nuclear research programme could offer a powerful solution. Scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), have developed a series of advanced membrane-based water purification technologies that can be used to treat water in flood-affected areas. The innovations are spin-offs from BARC’s in-house nuclear technology research. According to a statement presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, these technologies are designed to remove microbial contamination, suspended particles, and toxic elements that commonly enter water sources during floods. At the heart of the system are ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes, which act like microscopic sieves. City & Local Guides PREMIUM STORIES FROM EASTMOJO ‹ Act East sans delivery: Data shows persistent gaps in northeast spendingThe Union government’s decision to raise the allocation for the Ministry of Development of North...Read → Why the Mizo language’s constitutional recognition is sparking debateFor decades, the aspiration to include the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule of the...Read → How rail link is transforming Mizoram’s economyIn a hill state where food supplies have long depended on winding mountain roads and...Read → Beyond religion: Rethinking tribal rights and constitutional safeguardsThe year 2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, which...Read → Protests aren’t enough: India needs a clear anti-racism statuteRacial discrimination is not a new phenomenon in India. People from the Northeast have long...Read → › 2000+ readers have backed us to keep journalism free. You can too. SUPPORT US (function(){ var w=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-scroll'); if(!w)return; var p=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-prev'), n=document.querySelector('.emm-carousel-next'), s=296; function u(){ p.hidden=w.scrollLeft<=0; n.hidden=w.scrollLeft+w.clientWidth>=w.scrollWidth-1; } p.addEventListener('click',function(){w.scrollBy({left:-s,behavior:'smooth'});}); n.addEventListener('click',function(){w.scrollBy({left:s,behavior:'smooth'});}); w.addEventListener('scroll',u); u();})(); Ultrafiltration technology — including hollow fibre membrane devices — can remove bacteria, viruses, and suspended solids from contaminated water. These systems can operate both online and offline, making them suitable for emergency deployment during disasters. Nanofiltration systems, meanwhile, target dissolved contaminants such as hardness-causing ions and heavy metals, which are common in groundwater and floodwater contamination. Indian cultural products Scientists say such systems can significantly improve drinking water safety in regions where floods frequently damage infrastructure and contaminate wells and surface water sources. BARC has already transferred these purification technologies to about 56 licensed companies across India for commercial production and deployment. The technologies are being used at both domestic and community scales in several states, including Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Assam. Among the licensed firms is an Assam-based company, AUA Solutions, which has received technology for domestic water purifiers based on ultrafiltration membranes. Apart from microbial purification, BARC has also developed specialised filtration technologies to remove arsenic, iron, and fluoride—contaminants that affect drinking water quality in many parts of India. The technologies are available for transfer to private entrepreneurs on a non-exclusive basis, allowing multiple manufacturers to scale up production and expand access. Experts say the approach reflects a broader trend in which nuclear research institutions are translating high-end scientific innovations into everyday public utilities such as water purification, desalination, and environmental remediation. For flood-prone states like Assam — where safe drinking water becomes scarce during and after floods — such technologies could play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and public health. With climate change expected to intensify extreme rainfall and flooding across the Brahmaputra basin, scalable water purification solutions may soon become as essential as embankments and relief camps. Health Also Read: Act East sans delivery: Data shows persistent gaps in northeast spending Related WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Share @media ( min-width: 250px ){.newspack_global_ad.sidebar_article-2{min-height: 100px;}}