Mohammed Jameel Supports Shinshu University Water Purification Trial for Rural Communities

Shinshu University, Community Jameel, and Jameel Corporation have announced results from a water purification trial that could enhance access to safe drinking water for rural communities without electricity. The results were presented at a press conference held at the Shinshu University campus in Nagano, Japan.

Nearly two billion people around the world lack stable access to safe water. Water contamination and unreliable power have placed advanced purification technologies, like reverse osmosis, out of reach for many rural regions.

Researchers at Shinshu University's Institute of Aqua Regeneration developed a reverse osmosis membrane technology that delivers both ultra-low pressure operation and high water permeability. Unlike conventional RO systems that rely on high pressure and power, this technology operates at less than half the pressure of standard systems and can be driven by a simple hand pump.

The membrane has achieved NSF/ANSI 58 certification, the international standard for water purifiers.

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel Catalyzes Project

The project was catalyzed by Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, founder and chairman of Community Jameel, following his meeting with Professor Morinobu Edo at Shinshu University in 2023.

"Access to clean water remains one of the most urgent challenges faced by populations across the world," Mohammed Jameel said. "We are pleased to support the team at Shinshu University with this pilot programme, which has the potential to enhance the accessibility of clean water for millions of people and improve health and quality of life within these communities."

A six-month trial was conducted among rural communities in West Bengal and Rajasthan, India. The trial showed that the pump doubles water permeability compared to many commercial RO membranes, reduces manual operating energy by approximately 50%, and functions entirely without electricity, batteries, or solar panels.

The results from this trial have been published in the journal Results in Engineering and reflect not only technical performance but real daily use by residents.

Community Feedback Incorporated into Study

Well water is perceived as unsafe or unpalatable by families in both West Bengal and Rajasthan. Community members who used the water pump reported positive feedback, with improvements to the taste and appearance of the water and improved health conditions as a result.

This real-life feedback was incorporated into the study's evaluation, highlighting the importance of community trials alongside laboratory performance.

The project was conducted with support from Community Jameel and Jameel Corporation, with cooperation from Indian non-profit organizations Seva Mandir in Rajasthan and the Rupantaran Foundation in West Bengal.

The team behind the pump is now exploring commercialization and scaling of the RO membrane technology, with a focus on localizing it to the communities in which it will be introduced. Beyond rural households, the technology could support emergency water purification during disasters and contribute to sustainable water access in infrastructure-independent settings.

Mohammed Jameel founded Community Jameel as an independent, global organization advancing science to help communities thrive. Community Jameel has cofounded several research initiatives with leading institutions, including the MIT Jameel Clinic in 2018, the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab at MIT in 2014, and the Jameel Institute with Imperial College London in 2019.

Community Jameel's work spans health, water, food security, and climate resilience. The organization supports the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT, whose co-founders, Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics.

The water purification trial represents Community Jameel's commitment to developing practical solutions for communities facing infrastructure challenges. The hand pump technology offers a potential pathway to safe drinking water for populations in rural areas where conventional purification systems remain economically or technically unfeasible.