Dhwani Vyas

Indian engineer who invented a low-cost water purification system used in rural India

Dhwani Vyas, a chemical engineer from Mumbai, revolutionized water filtration with her Puriflow System developed at age 23 in 2012. This portable device uses graphene oxide membranes to remove 99.9% of contaminants at 70% lower cost than existing solutions. Her innovation has provided clean water access to 250,000 people in Rajasthan and Odisha through partnerships with NGOs like WaterAid India.

Vyas' system won the Asher Innovation Prize (2015) and MIT's Global Challenge Award (2016). She created a microfranchise model where local women operate filtration units, generating income while delivering services. Her team's 2018 study published in Water Research Journal demonstrated how the system reduces waterborne diseases by 68% in implementation areas. She currently advises the Indian government's Jal Jeevan Mission for rural water security.