Know if water is safe within just 5 minutes.
A smart paper-based test built at IIT Jodhpur. No labs, no transport delays, no compromises — precision biotechnology in the palm of your hand.
- ~5 min
- Time to a readable result
- 0
- Lab instruments needed
- On-site
- Tested where the water is
Result window
Colour shift readable by eye — no instrument required.
Developed and demonstrated with
Water safety is a race against time.
Traditional water testing is broken. By the time a sample reaches a lab and gets processed, contaminated water has already been consumed. We change the timeline from days to minutes.
2.2 Billion
People worldwide lack safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme).
72 hours → 5 minutes
Standard lab incubation takes up to three days. The Jaljyoti strip answers at the water source.
Impact highlight
Taken out of the lab and into the field — demonstrated to researchers, officials, and rural households.
Redefining the detection cycle
Jaljyoti collapses the traditional laboratory workflow into a single, seamless interaction.
Collection
Standard startTraditional: remote samples travel for hours before anyone looks at them. Jaljyoti: test at the source.
Biotech reaction
Jaljyoti advantageEnzymatic biomarkers react with contaminants on the paper strip and produce a visible colour shift.
Decision point
Instant outputRead the result in about five minutes instead of waiting three days to learn the water was unsafe.
See it in action
Our reagents are designed for visual clarity. Move the slider to see how the strip responds across purity levels. This is a simulation of the colour response, not a live measurement.
Water is safe
Negligible bacterial presence detected. Suitable for general consumption and agricultural use.
Five steps, one visit
The entire workflow runs where the water is.
Under a minute of hands-on work
Collect
Hands-onTake a small sample from any source.
Well, tap, tank or canal. The test travels to the water, so nothing has to be bottled and shipped anywhere.
Seconds · Sample vial
Add reagent
Hands-onAdd the enzyme reagent to the sample.
The enzymatic biomarkers arrive pre-measured — nothing to weigh, dilute or calibrate in the field.
Seconds · Reagent ampoule
Dip
Hands-onPlace the paper strip into the solution.
Paper does the rest. No incubator, no power supply, no laboratory bench.
Seconds · Test strip
Wait
UnattendedAllow about five minutes for the reaction.
Nothing to supervise. A laboratory would be starting a 48-72 hour incubation at this point.
About 5 minutes · Nothing — set it down
Compare
Hands-onRead the result against the colour chart.
Safe, boil before use, or contaminated — read by eye, by anyone, with no training.
Seconds · Colour chart
Efficiency comparison
| Criteria | Traditional labs | Jaljyoti |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 48–72 hours | About 5 minutes |
| Cost per test | Lab fee plus sample transport | A fraction of lab cost |
| Expertise required | Trained lab technician | No training needed |
| Equipment | Incubator and lab bench | Paper strip, no power |
| Logistics | Samples must be transported | On-site and portable |
Versatile impact
Jaljyoti is built to serve every setting that depends on clean water.
Sustainable agriculture
Check irrigation water before it reaches the crop.
Schools & communities
Anyone can run the test — no technician required.
Industrial use
Process-water monitoring without pausing the line.
Municipal & government supply
Spot-check distribution points across a whole district.
Ready to improve water safety?
Tell us where you need testing and we will get back to you with a pilot plan.