Outreach Meeting – Collaboration with VIT Vellore

The following questions were posed by the VIT Vellore team, focusing on cultural resonance, traditional practices, and community involvement in water purification technologies.

Question 1

How have Indian communities historically viewed water, both as a sacred resource and a health necessity, and how does your biofilter align with or modernise these traditional values?

Water in India has always been regarded as both sacred and essential for life. Rivers are revered, and rituals across regions center around water. Communities have historically developed indigenous methods such as stepwells, tanks, and natural filters made from sand and charcoal to maintain clean water sources. Our biofilter builds upon this legacy by combining traditional principles of natural purification with modern sustainable biotechnology. By offering a chemical-free, low-cost, and community-oriented filtration system, POSEIDON upholds the traditional reverence for water while addressing present-day health and safety challenges.

Question 2

Are there traditional Indian water purification methods (e.g., using copper vessels, sand filtration, moringa seeds) that inspired or influenced any part of your biofilter’s design or philosophy?

Yes, several traditional methods directly influenced our design philosophy. Historical practices such as storing water in copper vessels for antimicrobial effects and using layered sand and charcoal filtration systems in village settings provided valuable inspiration. Our biofilter adopts this same logic of nature-based purification—using materials and biological components that are renewable and eco-friendly—to modernize these age-old principles into a scalable, modular, and sustainable solution.

Question 3

What role do you see for schools, temples, or panchayats in spreading cultural acceptance and trust for your biofilter technology, especially in regions where water issues are deeply tied to daily life and rituals?

Schools, temples, and panchayats hold powerful positions within local social structures and can act as effective mediators between innovation and tradition. Schools can introduce the biofilter as part of environmental science and health awareness programs. Temples, with their cultural influence, can reinforce the spiritual value of clean water during rituals and festivals. Panchayats can institutionalize trust by integrating the biofilter within existing rural water management systems, ensuring that communities see the project as both culturally aligned and scientifically validated. Together, these institutions bridge heritage and innovation—making clean water not just a need, but a shared responsibility.