- Sample analysed at the Bahrain Medical Laboratory demonstrated a 98.5% reduction in bacteria following treatment with the device — a compelling validation of the technology’s effectiveness.
- Unlike conventional UV treatment systems that are installed along pipe lines, this underwater unit functions directly inside the storage tank itself.
A Bahrain-based start-up has introduced an innovative water purification device designed to tackle one of the most persistent yet overlooked challenges in drinking water safety: microbial contamination in stored water.
Candela ME Consultancy WLL, working alongside its parent company Candela Research Centre Pvt Ltd in India, has developed Candela UV — a device that harnesses germicidal ultraviolet radiation to treat water directly within storage tanks.
The invention is the brainchild of Indian expatriate Nikhil Somanadhan, a mechanical engineer residing in Juffair who has called Bahrain home since 2004. He was supported throughout the development journey by Prince Jose, a retired Indian Army officer and safety manager who arrived in Bahrain eight years ago, and Aji Kumar, who provided technical production expertise.
The three collaborators, all living and working in Bahrain, found common ground through their shared enthusiasm for technology, invention, and even scuba diving. Somanadhan and Jose first crossed paths at Almoayyed International Group, where Somanadhan previously worked, and their friendship flourished around a mutual drive to create meaningful solutions.
Journey of experimentation
Somanadhan dedicated six years to refining the concept. His earliest prototype took the form of a water turbine model, which was later reimagined as an LED-based solution. Both iterations, however, carried inherent limitations that prevented them from reaching commercial viability. Undeterred, the team pressed forward with further experimentation.
This year, their persistence paid off with the final product: the world’s first double quartz glass UV underwater reactor, as Somanadhan describes it.
“The last two years, we were testing different kinds of bulbs and different kinds of apparatus in the water,” Somanadhan told a Bahrain media. “And finally, we had a breakthrough with this particular device.” The team is now in the process of filing a patent to protect their innovation.
How the technology works
The Candela UV reactor operates on a deceptively simple principle with profound implications. Unlike conventional UV treatment systems that are installed along pipe lines, this underwater unit functions directly inside the storage tank itself.
It continuously recirculates stored water through a dedicated UV-C treatment zone, exposing it to germicidal radiation that neutralises harmful microorganisms. By maintaining microbiological water quality right up to the point of use, the device effectively closes the gap that traditional disinfection methods leave open.
The results speak for themselves. A water sample analysed at the Bahrain Medical Laboratory demonstrated a 98.5 per cent reduction in bacteria following treatment with the device — a compelling validation of the technology’s effectiveness.
Addressing a global health concern
The significance of this innovation becomes clear when viewed against the broader public health landscape. The World Health Organisation reports that water contamination drives an estimated 1.4 million preventable deaths each year.
While municipally supplied water undergoes disinfection prior to distribution, the residual chlorine present — typically around 0.5 parts per million — gradually dissipates over time as the water sits in storage. As chlorine evaporates, conditions within rooftop and underground tanks can become increasingly favourable for microbial regrowth, particularly where regular tank cleaning and maintenance are neglected.
Candela UV directly addresses this vulnerability. By reducing reliance on residual chlorine as the sole safeguard, the device helps extend the interval between tank cleaning operations and provides an additional, continuous layer of protection. It filters the water multiple times each day, ensuring that what reaches the tap remains safe.
Sustainability in mind
The device is engineered for broad applicability and straightforward deployment. With a modest power consumption of 85–90 watts, it can be connected to an external electrical source or run on solar power, offering an eco-friendly alternative that aligns with growing sustainability priorities.
Its compact, plug-and-play design makes it suitable for a wide range of settings: villas, apartments, hospitals, schools, hotels, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities alike.
Field testing has further reinforced confidence in the product. “We have tested the product for the last two years at a local plant in Ras Aljamjur with positive results,” Somanadhan confirmed, adding that outreach to potential commercial partners has already begun and the initial reception has been encouraging.
For Somanadhan, the water purification device represents the latest chapter in a career defined by curiosity and hands-on problem solving. “I have always had a penchant for inventing things,” he explained.
His portfolio of creations spans an unexpectedly diverse range: a dental device inspired by his father’s work in the industry, developed shortly after graduation; a low-tech coconut scraper that became a household favourite with his wife; and a single-bed air conditioner conceived for low-income families, though it ultimately proved commercially unviable.
His professional track record in Bahrain’s industrial construction sector — spanning more than two decades — includes notable projects such as the construction of a 15-kilometre sewerage pipeline in Diyar Al Muharraq. Currently, he is channelling his environmental and community-minded ethos into a new undertaking: a leak detection system designed not only to conserve water but also to curb revenue losses, a project that echoes the same drive for practical, impactful innovation behind Candela UV.
Together with Jose, Somanadhan has represented their inventions at technology events across the region, including in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, where they pitched an earlier patented innovation — an underground pipe coupling designed to facilitate emergency repairs in the event of breakage.