How a BC Researcher is Tackling Water Challenges 

While growing up in the forest of Kilgoris and in Kisii, Kenya, Dr. Paul Onkundi Nyangaresi developed a deep appreciation for the environment and his community. 

Now, as a researcher in environmental engineering and electronic science in Canada, Dr. Nyangaresi is developing a low-cost and easy-t0-use water disinfection system that purifies rainwater. The system can store up to 10,000 litres while delivering 500 litres of clean drinking and cooking water daily for the 365 students and teachers at the Rianyabayo Memorial Academy in Kisii County, Kenya.  

Under the supervision of Professor Sara Beck in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia — the system has been designed to align with the community’s culture and way of life, incorporating technologies such as ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) disinfection.  

“I lived there for many years, so I was able to understand and work out the unique issues they face,” explains Dr. Nyangaresi. “Sometimes projects with good intentions fail because the people implementing them don’t really know what the community wants.” 

A mission beyond personal gain 

Dr. Nyangaresi credits Mitacs, along with industry partners Clear Inc. (CEO Ron Blutrich) and MW Technologies (president, Dr. Ted Mao) — for making his dreams a reality. Now, he aims to expand the system to other equity-deserving communities. 

“When I came to Canada to work as a postdoctoral researcher in June of 2021, people in my hometown expected me to focus on earning money for my own family –, personal and selfish needs,” says Dr. Nyangaresi. “For me, the aim was always to find a way to help my community and Mitacs helped me do that.” 

As part of his Mitacs project, Dr. Nyangaresi installed an ACUVA ArrowMax HOME UV LED disinfection system donated by Clear Inc. paired with a Kenyan-designed filtration system that uses sand to remove disease-causing microorganisms.  

Rainwater is collected into a water storage tank and is automatically pumped into the filtration unit, which is controlled by a float valve. After filtration, the water is stored in a reservoir before passing through the UV LED reactor for final disinfection. It is then distributed to seven taps used by the students and kitchen staff. This reactor is powered by a local photovoltaic system, which also supplies light to the Rianyabayo Memorial Academy.  

“As long as there’s rain — which is abundant in that region — they have clean water and they don’t need any complex equipment or around-the-clock monitoring,” adds Dr. Nyangaresi, who estimates the cost of the system to be around $5,000. “All they do is turn on the tap.” 

Innovation rooted in local knowledge 

Dr. Nyangaresi’s achievement is driven by his continuous engagement with the community.  

Recognizing the importance of culturally informed practices, he actively consults local residents in his research design, sources materials from the region to support economic development, and employs skilled talent within the community to install the system, creating a solution that fosters both sustainability and a sense of ownership. 

The next step for Dr. Nyangaresi is to apply his research in meaningful ways to Indigenous communities in Canada.  

In 2024, Dr. Nyangaresi earned the Mitacs Innovation Award — Inclusive Innovator of the Year, in recognition of his work. For him, the honour was unexpected.  

“When I received the email that I won the Inclusive Innovator of the Year award, I was so happy, and it was something that I had never imagined” Dr. Nyangaresi reflects.  

Mitacs’s programs receive funding from multiple partners across Canada. We thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon for supporting us to empower Canadian innovation. 

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca.