Six Master of Engineering students from MIT, along with their advisor, Susan Murcott, have embarked upon a Point of Use Drinking Water Treatment Project in Nepal.

  The students' goal is to develop a low-cost water treatment system to purify drinking water. This will provide the end result of reducing water-borne disease and, ultimately, save lives.

  Nepal is the seventh poorest nation in the world. 70% of the population lacks access to clean, safe drinking water. 1 in 3 children dies before age 3 from water-borne illnesses. Of those who survive, 67% experience stunted growth due to the loss of nutrients they experienced during their illnesses.

  A Phipps & Bird jartester has been donated to the team to assist in their study. Kim Luu is in charge of conducting the team's coagulation and settling studies. She is performing a jar test in the accompanying photo.

  The group photo depicts Susan Murcott, left, behind student Junko Sagara. They are standing with the workers at the Central Lab. The third photo is a night shot taken in Durbar Square, Patan.