UBC postdoctoral researcher Paul Onkundi Nyangaresi has earned a Mitacs Innovation Award in the Inclusive Innovator of the Year category. The honour recognizes achievements that promote social inclusion, incorporate diverse perspectives, and prioritize accessibility.

An environmental engineer and electronic science technologist, Nyangaresi is one of eight winners celebrated for creating a first-of-its-kind rainwater disinfection system. It was designed with UV LED technology to remove particles and a filtration system that uses sand to eliminate disease-causing microorganisms. This method offered a simple, low-cost, and effective solution to provide clean water — particularly in rural areas — considering that alternatives that rely on chlorine are costly and UV mercury lamps have high energy demands, short lifespans, and environmental risks.

“I have grown up in my community facing firsthand the challenges of water,” Nyangaresi told the Vancouver Tech Journal. “Dependent on water from rivers and ‘protected springs,’ which are always contaminated for all domestic use, many people keep suffering from waterborne diseases such as cholera; others have died from amoebic dysentery. These challenges kept me thinking about how to come up with a solution by applying innovative technologies.”

He added: “I had read about [water disinfection using UV light], but I had never researched it myself. So when I moved to China [to complete a PhD], I discussed it with my supervisor, Professor Zhang Baoping from Xiamen University, and he agreed to support me. That’s when I fully understood how UV light works in water disinfection.”

Nyangaresi’s vision came to life through a pilot project at Rianyabayo Memorial Academy, a school in his hometown, Nyamesocho Village, Kenya. The project was supported by ally and UBC assistant professor, Dr. Sara Beck, who transitioned from her role as a NASA flight controller to becoming an environmental engineer focused on safe drinking water solutions. Beck spearheaded funding efforts, securing support from Mitacs and enterprise partners Clear and MW Technologies.

Recognizing the need for a tailored approach, the two consulted locals on the research and design, sourced regional materials, and hired Kenyan talent for the installation. The result: a system capable of storing up to 10,000 litres of water and delivering 500 litres of clean water daily for drinking and cooking needs. During periods without rainfalls, the apparatus can also still provide 500 litres of water per day, for up to 20 days. In addition, the innovation eliminates the need for students to walk for hours to creeks that are often unsafe to collect water, and reduces their exposure to waterborne diseases.

Now, Nyangaresi and Beck are in discussions with Indigenous Services Canada to implement a similar system for Indigenous communities, where access to clean water remains a persistent issue. The duo is also exploring building a larger system for Rianyabayo Memorial Academy to provide water from rivers, surface water, protected springs, and other sources.

“Technologically, I intend to integrate the treatment system with AI-driven sensors for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and dynamic optimization,” Nyangaresi shared. “These systems will use machine learning to adapt disinfection protocols based on contamination levels and climate variability — making them both adaptable and cost-effective for the community. The impact will be significant as the entire community currently relies on water from these sources — all of which are highly contaminated.”

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