A team of researchers from Chandigarh University has been granted a patent by the Patent Office, Government of India, for a newly developed wastewater filtering device. The invention is designed to provide a two-stage treatment for kitchen wastewater before it enters the drainage system, enabling the collection of treated water for domestic applications such as gardening, irrigation, and outdoor cleaning.
The patent was awarded in April 2026 to Prof. (Dr.) Anu Kumar, Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, alongside two biotechnology students, Bhanu Krishan and Shivani. According to Prof. Kumar, the concept originated from the water scarcity observed in Shimla in 2018 and addresses broader national statistics regarding urban wastewater generation and low recycling rates in India.
The patented device operates through a modified strainer that serves as the main housing. When kitchen wastewater generated from washing utensils enters the system, it passes through two successive treatment sections. The first section features multiple polyurethane sheets coated with silica along the inner walls to absorb oily constituents and soap micelles. The wastewater then flows into a second section containing activated charcoal, which provides an additional adsorption stage for remaining contaminants.
Once treated, the filtered water is conveyed through a tail pipe into an attached storage tank. The collected water can be utilized for non-potable domestic tasks, including watering household plants, lawns, toilet flushing, and cleaning courtyards or utility areas, thereby reducing the demand for fresh potable water.
Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director at Chandigarh University, noted that the institution has an active research and intellectual property ecosystem. According to university data, its faculty and students have filed over 6,100 patents, with 5,800 published and 260 granted. The university maintains structured research budgets, specialized research centers, and various corporate and government-funded projects.
"The development and patenting of practical household utility devices by academic institutions highlight the growing emphasis on applied research addressing real-world challenges like water scarcity. Commercializing such innovations through proper channels can create viable product pipelines and scalable solutions for urban resource management." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
