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Students for Students
The Student Water Project
We fundraise, partner with engineers, and bring UV water purification to communities that need it most.
$12,327.63
Funds Raised
40
Students Involved
363+
People Impacted
1
Active Project
How It Works
Students fund it. Engineers build it. Communities benefit.
The Student Water Project™ is a student-led initiative that partners with professional engineers to bring UV water purification to schools and communities without access to clean drinking water.
Students lead fundraising campaigns in their own schools and communities, and 100% of every dollar raised goes to a specific, verified project. Partner engineers and scientists guide the technical work, while A Drop of Hope, led by Dr. Paul Nyangaresi, coordinates deployment on the ground.
Along the way, students receive impact reports and see exactly where their effort goes. Education through action.
See it in action
Watch our story
Featured Project
Kenya Water Project Expansion
Nyamesocho, Kenya
Rianyabayo Memorial Academy
An award-winning pilot UV water treatment system, developed in partnership with Mitacs, Clear Inc., and MW Technologies, proved that safe drinking water can be delivered effectively. However, limited storage and system capacity mean the current system cannot meet full demand.
The Student Water Project aims to expand this proven solution to ensure reliable access to clean water for the entire school.
Student Publications
Research by our Jr Scientific Team
Student-written articles on water treatment, sustainability, and global water access.
Featured Article
The Algae Bottleneck: How Organic Fouling and Biofilms Challenge Surface-Water Membrane Filtration
Ayla Nasir
Surface-water membrane systems can become fouled by algal cells, algogenic organic matter, and developing biofilms, reducing water flow and increasing energy and cleaning requirements. This article examines how algae-related fouling develops, why routine backwashing and chemical cleaning may not fully restore membrane performance, and how emerging approaches such as targeted pretreatment, photocatalytic filtration, and electrically conductive membranes may help improve long-term filtration reliability.
Read article
Featured Article
Chlorination and Disinfection Byproducts: Managing a Tradeoff That Cannot Be Eliminated
Peizhi Xu
Chlorine disinfection is essential for preventing waterborne disease, but it also reacts with organic matter to produce disinfection byproducts. This article examines the health evidence surrounding trihalomethanes and other byproducts, compares precursor-removal strategies with alternative disinfectants, and explains why water treatment requires balancing microbial protection against long-term chemical exposure rather than eliminating one risk entirely.
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Featured Article
Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Health Risks to Children and Filtration Strategies
Prisha Gupta
Lead contamination in drinking water can cause serious and lasting neurological harm, particularly in children. This article examines the biological mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity, disparities in exposure affecting rural and underserved communities, and the strengths and limitations of point-of-use filtration, emphasizing that effective mitigation requires both immediate filtration and long-term removal of contamination sources.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 1
Engineering Future Variants of SpudCells for Programmable Water Bioremediation
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Can an artificial cell help solve one of humanity’s oldest challenges: access to clean water? This article explores the potential of recently constructed synthetic cells, SpudCells, as a sustainable and innovative technology for water bioremediation. Unlike natural bacteria, SpudCells are highly customizable allowing for diversification of specialized tasks without the unpredictability associated with living organisms.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 2
Human Adenoviruses in Drinking Water: Challenges in Detection, Persistence, and Treatment
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have emerged as important waterborne pathogens because of their exceptional environmental stability and persistence. Unlike many other viruses, HAdVs possess a robust protein capsid and a double-stranded DNA genome that enhance their survival under adverse environmental conditions and reduce susceptibility to traditional low-pressure ultraviolet (UV) disinfection.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 3
Protecting Keystone Species for Coastal Water Quality: Kelp Biofiltration in Municipal Wastewater Management
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Kelp forests can absorb excess nutrients and support healthier coastal ecosystems, but their survival depends on ecological relationships and suitable environmental conditions. This article examines how sea otters protect kelp through the sea otter–urchin–kelp trophic cascade, evaluates the potential of kelp biofiltration using a Tofino case study, and explores the engineering challenges of seasonal nutrient uptake, harvesting, and heavy-metal accumulation.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 4
Phytoremediation of Hospital Wastewater: Removal Mechanisms, Microbial Biofilm Dynamics, and Implementation in Resource-Limited Settings
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Hospital wastewater contains pharmaceutical residues, harmful microorganisms, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can persist after conventional treatment. This article explores how subsurface-flow constructed wetlands use gravel, plant roots, and microbial biofilms to reduce pollution, compares plant performance in real-world case studies, and examines the design, climate, land, and maintenance challenges of implementing low-energy treatment in resource-limited settings.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 5
Microplastics in Waste Stabilization Ponds: Limitations of Zooplankton Filtration and Engineering Solutions for Remote Effluent
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Microplastics, particularly synthetic microfibres, can escape wastewater treatment and enter aquatic food webs through filter-feeding organisms such as Daphnia. This article investigates why natural zooplankton filtration and sedimentation are insufficient for long-term microplastic removal in waste stabilization ponds, and proposes a low-energy, modular treatment approach combining particle agglomeration, depth filtration, and permanent solids retention for remote communities.
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Jr Scientific Team Publication 6
Treating Arsenic in Groundwater: Chemical Challenges and Rural Engineering Solutions
Prisha Gupta, Ayla Nasir, and Peizhi Xu
Arsenic contamination is an invisible threat to groundwater-dependent communities, and its chemical form determines how effectively it can be removed. This article examines the sources and health risks of arsenic, compares adsorption, ion exchange, and membrane treatment, and evaluates household and community-scale systems to show why maintenance, local replacement parts, and long-term monitoring are essential to reliable rural water treatment.
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Events
12,000 KM Challenge Results
Virtual Running Fundraiser
12,000 KM Challenge
The 12,000 KM Challenge was a global running initiative held August 2–9, 2026. Participants ran, walked, and cycled around the world, contributing their distance toward a collective goal of 12,000 km, representing the distance from Toronto to Kisii, Kenya. The challenge has concluded — thank you to everyone who took part!
By the numbers:
- 3,504 km travelled by 60 participants
- $12,367.63 raised — 123.6% of our $10,000 goal
- 161 donors and 5 sponsors and partners
Merchandise
Support TSWP in style
We are working on new Student Water Project merchandise. Sign up to hear about future releases and ways you can support our work.
Student Projects
TSWP Picture Book Project
Help bring our student-created water education picture book to life — every submission and purchase supports clean water access.
Call for Submissions
TSWP Picture Book Project
The Student Water Project is collecting imaginative responses to water-themed questions from elementary students and turning them into a student designed picture book! All profits will go towards our clean water initiatives in Kisii, Kenya.
Follow our journey
Keep up with TSWP
Follow The Student Water Project for project updates, student stories, events, research, and new ways to get involved.
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Currently Supported By
Project partners named across The Student Water Project site.
In the field
Photo Gallery
Moments from our projects, fundraisers, and student teams at work.