Eureka AsMET pilot project in India

From the 108 shortlisted applications, our AsFreeWATER project proposal has been declared eligible for financing. Eureka Innowwide is funded by the European Union as part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. It aims to support European companies and encourage them to take their R&D to markets all over the world.

To the latest call for proposals, announced by Innowwide, we submitted our AsFreeWATER idea together with our Indian subcontractor, VMC Management Ltd. The objective of the project proposal is to provide arsenic-free healthy drinking water for rural communities under a future Indian- Hungarian cooperation. VMC is highly engaged in activities supporting SDG Goals and ESG realization.

We are pleased that our project was positively evaluated and considered worthy of support.

The project will be realized by applying AsMET regenerable adsorbent-based solution, the PuraWELL system at two arsenic-affected rural locations in India. In the project PuraWELL system is used, the AsMET regenerable adsorbent-based solution is tested at two arsenic-affected rural locations in India. The regenerable adsorbent means that during the service life, which is up to 10 years compared to the 1-2 year lifespan of traditional filter materials the regenerable filter does not have to be thrown away and purchased again, but with a simple wash-down it is suitable for reuse.

During these years the filter is not disposed to landfill,  the operation is chemical free flow-through process. Therefore, the operation cost is also lower than traditional methods.

For more information on "green production" of adsorbents: 

The project started in May 2024 and together with our Indian partner, we will test the technology in-situ over three months to validate its performance in the local context, and thus demonstrate its competitive advantage, efficiency, and robustness. As we believe in sustainability, we are convinced that not only testing, and implementation are important, but operation and maintenance also play key roles in ensuring sustainability.

We are positive that training of local operators is of crucial importance. Once the testing period finishes (in October 2024), we will have an insight into the potential of arsenic removal in the frame of the Jal Jeevan national project or any other market-based opportunities. In the closing phase, we prepare a summary report of the results, with recommendations and arrange a workshop in India to introduce the results and recommendations for application to the relevant water authorities, communities, stakeholders, private water providers, technology providers. Based on the pilot project our future idea is to extend the project to PurAID® drinking water unit certified and listed by the UN as and SDG Acceleration Action or bigger needs of drinking water treatment suppliers. We will keep you informed about the progress of the project.

For further information please contact: csilla.kopornyik@puraset.hu