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Startup Terminal

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World Environment Day Interview: Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder and CEO, AKVO Atmospheric Water System

December 10, 2020

This interview is a part of the World Environment Day 2020 Interview Series. We welcome views from environmentalists, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders on present environmental challenges and request their innovative ideas to find sustainable solutions to solve them.

Name: Navkaran
Singh Bagga

Organization: AKVO
Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd.

Designation: Founder
and CEO

Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder and CEO, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems

ST: According to you what is
the biggest environmental threat in the world at present?

Navkaran Singh Bagga:  Water scarcity reports have become the norm across the globe. Cape Town and its impending water scarcity,The Chennai Water Crisis of 2019 has established the harsh truth that we are depleting all sources of water. Water is the driving force of all life on earth. Every one out of nine people lack access to clean drinking water. 1.8 billion people in seventeen countries with India in the extremely high category of water shortage within next few years is a matter of grave concern. Thus, a
quarter of the world’s population, appear to be veering towards an un-mitigatable water crisis.

Currently India holds the undesirable title of having the highest number of rural people without access to clean water. Although being home to nearly a sixth of the world’s population, India only gets 4% of the Earth’s fresh water. Already more than half of Asia’s third-biggest economy faces high water stress. 70% of Indians have poor or no access to safe drinking water and 22% of Indians do not have water reaching their homes and walk minimum more than a kilometre to reach a proper source. With only 60% of water available for consumption by 2030 we are alarmingly marching towards a crisis that will require human intervention right away otherwise we will stare at a third world war and this time over water.

Unfortunately, it is a sad truth that as a nation we still depend heavily on groundwater availability, be it for farming, drinking, washing, construction and any other miscellaneous use. 3.8 billion people could be living under water stressed conditions by 2025. 

According to the figures of the report by WaterAid, a global advocacy group on water and sanitation; India has around 63.4 million people living in rural areas without access to clean water, more than any other country. The figures are part of ‘Wild Water, State of the World’s Water 2017’, a report by WaterAid. That is more than the combined population of Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand. Compared globally, that is as many people as who live in Australia, Sweden, Sri Lanka and Bulgaria–combined.

12 per cent of India’s population is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, thanks to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system running for years has rendered irreparable loss and depletion of the water reserves. According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual six per cent loss in the country’s GDP.

ST: What do you think a common person can do to help the environment?

Navkaran Singh Bagga: I think it should be a basic responsibility of every individual to do their bit to help and save the environment. The year 2020 has given us a good shake up and reminded us that we are not doing enough to help Mother Nature. It is high time that we pulled up our socks and tried. It does not require a lot of financial expenses or effort and anyone can take a few measures. Reuse, Reduce and Recycle should be our mantra. We should try to use eco-friendly and biodegradable things. Every individual can take very simple steps like reducing water wastage, reducing use of paper, carpooling, switching to alternates of plastic, afforestation, using energy efficient appliances. Moreover, we should try to look for alternate sources of energy and water. Even the government should emphasize and invest more on alternative and eco-friendly sources of energy.  Embracing new and alternative technology is also a step forward. Being self-sufficient and not being dependent on earth’s natural resources is the key to a better future. The education system should incorporate the issue of global climate change in a more elaborate manner to make the future generations more aware and take charge of the situation. As an individual, I have always been very conscious about the environment and have always strived to use the best environmental practices in my personal life.

ST: What message do you have for the present and future generations?

Navkaran Singh Bagga: “Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment” says the United Nations. The earth’s temperature is rising, ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, species are getting extinct – a horrid future is staring us in the face. If we do not act right away, it might be too late. Hence, it has now become an imperative for present and future generations to save the environment if they want to stay on planet Earth. We must look for ways to reduce carbon dioxide emission and our carbon footprint. We must all work towards a sustainable future. We need more crusaders like Greta Thunberg who will make the world a better place to live in.

Try to inculcate the habit of being environmentally responsible living in your children from a very young age so that they don’t take their home for granted. Moreover, for entrepreneurs who are looking for areas to invest, I would suggest that instead of looking just for exciting business opportunities, look for problems which are worth solving. Thus, along with doing a business, you will also be helping the society and making the world a better place.

ST: What is the significance of ‘World Environment Day’ at the present time?

Navkaran Singh Bagga: The theme for World Environment Day 2020 is biodiversity, a concern that is both imperative and existential. As I mentioned earlier, 2020 has been a wakeup call for us. Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa and now in India and of course, a global pandemic prove the interdependence of humans and the network in which they exist. This World Environment Day should be a reminder that humans do not own this planet. We are mere inhabitants and we must learn to co-exist with nature else we might cease to exist. With our increasing demands, humans have pushed nature beyond its limit. It would take 1.6 Earths to meet the demands that humans make of nature each year. If we continue on this path, the biodiversity loss will have severe implications for humanity, including the collapse of food and health systems. When we destroy biodiversity, we destroy the system that supports human life. Reversing biodiversity loss is the only way to restore and sustain a healthy planet.  This will only be possible when we understand and appreciate that the world we live in functions as a whole system.  It is time to redefine our relationship with nature and put nature at the heart of our decision-making. It is, indeed, ‘Time for Nature’.

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The Airports Authority of India, Lakshadweep

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The Airports Authority of India or AAI is a statutory body, under the ownership of, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.

AAI airport at Lakshadweep was looking for a solution to generate water as there were very scarce source of water hence Akvo installed one 500 LPD unit to provide water for their need.

Money Control

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AWGs are the ideal solution for India’s drinking water problems: Avko Atmospheric Water Systems

The company’s founder and CEO, Navkaran Singh Bagga said that alternative technologies like atmospheric water generators (AWG) that do not depend on any water source can be installed at offices, buildings, factories, villages, for safe and pure drinking water

Amid India’s battle with drinking water woes, an exchange of words recently took place between the BJP and the Congress after Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the potential of creating water from atmospheric moisture.

Moneycontrol caught up with Navkaran Singh Bagga, founder and CEO of Avko Atmospheric Water Systems to understand the state of play of atmospheric water generators (AWG) and its use in India.

Excerpts:

What are the immediate and long-term solutions to the water crisis that our country needs to mitigate? How important will be the collaborative approach between brands, governments, and people?

There cannot be an immediate solution to a manmade disaster developed over centuries. It will require drastic measures that must be monitored and audited to find any long-term solution. Parts of India remain in perpetual drought to keep the taps flowing in the major cities.

Water must come at a price, only then people might understand the seriousness of the issue. The need is to focus on replenishing our natural dams—the aquifers and catchment areas. Rivers should not be polluted with harmful chemicals from the industry and other waste. Preservation of natural aquifers and catchment areas are of utmost importance.

There has to be a proper audit report on water usage. Each housing society must have its own rainwater harvesting system along with every Government building. Alternative technologies like atmospheric water generator (AWG) that does not depend on any water source can be installed at offices, buildings, factories, villages, for safe and pure drinking water. Even the government should emphasize and invest more on alternative and eco-friendly sources of energy.

Government cannot alone mitigate this catastrophe, it has to be a collaborative effort with private entities or an innovation like AKVO which makes people self-reliant and future ready.

Government has announced an ambitious target of providing piped clean drinking water to all rural households by 2024. Although a worthy goal, it is unclear how the government proposes to achieve this formidable target under the current circumstances.

Agricultural irrigation is one area that needs immediate discourse as it accounts for 90 percent of freshwater withdrawals. Farmers from water stressed areas in India must be incentivised to not produce water intensive crops. Natural aquifers and catchment areas must be preserved.

What are the various versions of the machine available?

We mostly catered to industrial use in the beginning with 100, 150, 300, 500 up to 1000 litres, but now, we also have the all new AKVO POD, which is meant for homes, offices and small establishments.

This unit can make up to 50 litres of pure drinking water per day. We are trying in our own way to address various water crisis laden situations across cities, which gives me personally and my team immense satisfaction. With a lifetime supply of limitless water, now you truly own your water.

The Covid-19 situation has taught us to hold dear many things we took for granted, it actually was a ready reckoner for the human error we were perpetrating towards nature, which could not breathe and was dying. Lockdown showed glimpses of natural and animal life coming back to normalcy which was missing for a generation world over.

Covid-19 has taught us is to act responsibly, to become more conscious of natural resources and preserve it and become future ready with technologies that do not exploit nature. AKVO AWG is just the human solution to the dilemma about drinking water.

What do you think is most essential right now for the AWG market?

The most vital thing at the moment is educating people on the impending water crisis and the need for using alternative resources. Most of our fellow citizens are not understanding the seriousness of the issue.

The pandemic has taught us that we need to be future ready and independent. Being self-sufficient and not being dependent on earth’s natural resources is the key to a better future Embracing new and alternative technology is a step forward.

People need to learn that in order to survive we must come up with immediate and long-term solutions. The education system should incorporate the issue of global climate change in a more elaborate manner to make the future generations more aware and take charge of the situation.

What sets you apart from other AWG manufacturers in the country?

We are the largest indigenous manufactures of AWG machines in the country. AKVO, gives you complete water independence without having to be bound to pipe lines and water sources, running just by plug and play method, providing India’s most cost effective machine that has the lowest power consumption per litre globally to generate the most amount of water – with zero environmental impact.

The bottled cans used at homes and offices which calls itself mineral water and is marketed anywhere between Rs 4.50 to Rs 5.00 per litre, always has the cleanliness suspicion tag attached with it, while the water that you consume from AKVO machines will cost only Rs 1.75 to Rs 2.00 per litre, it is just the cost of electricity.

AKVO works on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour. Also, at AKVO, we use a powerful proprietary organic filtration process that outputs pure drinking water that contains no harmful chemicals, bacteria, viruses or pesticides.

The water collected from our AWG is almost distilled in its collection stage and then minerals are added to the water in the machine itself to make it reach recommended drinking standards.

After extensive testing, the water produced from these generators agree very well with the standards set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The tests were also agreeable with the standards set by ISO 10500, 2012 (2nd revision) and has been marked safe for drinking.

Which are the main markets for AKVO in India and who have been your biggest patrons in the country?

AKVO played an instrumental role in providing an alternative solution in water scarcity hit Chennai during the summer months of 2019 which drew global attention.

The Greater Chennai Corporation had installed AKVO atmospheric water generator in its premises on a trial basis. The company is in talks with other big MNCs in Chennai to install the machine at its offices.

Currently, over 50 machines have been installed in Chennai across schools, residential complexes, private institutions etc. NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Haldia (6 machines running and providing water to 900 factory workers), Hero Moto Corp has installed one machine in its plant in Haryana, and other government bodies are also trusting AKVO machines in providing clean drinking water. Six machines have been installed in Lakshadweep Island as well in association with the local government.

AKVO has now become India’s largest AWG manufacturer with over 350 machines sold in India and worldwide. We have enquiries coming in almost every day as people have started to realize the value of water and the potential of this technology.

Are you present in international markets? If yes, what are the Governments and public/private sector units you are collaborating with?

We have a strong presence in several international markets. The Gulf countries have been one of our biggest clients owing to the climatic conditions there. We are also present in South Asian countries, South Africa, South America.

Over 44 AKVO machines have been installed at the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium, with an order for over 350 more. We have worked with the Supreme Committee of Design and Legacy, Qatar for this.

We are also currently working with the Govt. of Phillipines. Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEVA), DP World in Dubai have been our clients. We also have AKVO machines running in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Cape Town, Santiago and Chile.

Any challenges you are facing in marketing the product in the country?

Lot of people do not believe that water is something they should pay for but what they do not understand is water, especially drinking water, should be treated as an utility item, just like cooking gas or electricity. The idea needs to be instilled in people.

How have you been funded? What has been your investment and what is the investment plan for the future?

We are 100 percent bootstrapped. We adopted this route as it will allow us to build a solid bottom-line focused business approach first. We have made an investment of upward of 1.5 million dollars and plan to invest a further of 10 million dollars in the next two years towards research and development, marketing, expansion of our product line.

Vimhans Niyati Hospital, New Delhi

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Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neuro and Allied Sciences is a mental healthcare institution in South Delhi. It was founded in 1987 as a tribute to the Indian psychiatrist Vidya Sagar, Vimhans Nayati is the best hospital in Delhi NCR, offering quality services backed by advanced technology and expertise of the top doctors in India.

The management of Vimhans wanted a solution to provide safe drinking water to the customers & were looking at GREEN technology to ensure their corporate vision & thus Akvo unit of 500 LPD was installed at their facility & its customers are enjoying the Akvo water.

APN News

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APN News

Hyderabad, If the current pandemic has brought with it a lesson, it is that of being self-sufficient.  Each growing day, it is making the human race realize the importance of being ready for an uncertain future. To meet this challenge to some extent, India’s largest AWG manufacturers, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd have introduced the country’s first home model of Atmospheric Water Generator, AKVO Pod, in Hyderabad, a machine that can produce pure and healthy drinking water from air. The machine is ideal for homes, offices and small businesses and can make up to 50 litres of pure drinking water per day. AKVO atmospheric water generators are equipped with a superior filter system that has an antimicrobial air filter to remove impurities from the air and UV Type C filtration to destroy any harmful microbes.

The water warrior, Mr. Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder and CEO AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd, speaking about the launch of the all new AKVO POD, the first indigenously Made in India, atmospheric water generatorsaid, “Although being home to nearly a sixth of the world’s population, India only gets 4% of the Earth’s fresh water. It has been our endeavour to change the dynamics by bringing water supply to the Indian masses at a very cost efficient and sustained manner. 70% of Indians have poor or no access to safe drinking water and 22% of Indians do not have water reaching their homes. With only 60% of water available for consumption by 2030 we are alarmingly marching towards a crisis that will require human intervention right away otherwise we will stare at a third world war and this time over water.”

He further added, “During this ongoing pandemic people are unsure about the safety and cleanliness of the bottled water jars used widely in offices and homes as it changes many hands and may be contaminated. This has propelled the demand for a home/office machine which can produce pure drinking water without any contamination. Our machines come with the highest level of UV filtration – Type C- that can help kill viruses and bacteria of the highest order. We hope, with AKVO Pod, we can reduce some of our dependency on groundwater and make ourselves future ready and water independent.”

In 2019, a sluggish monsoon that brought little rainfall in Telangana, had put Hyderabad on the brink of a water crisis with only 48 days of drinking water left. After Chennai, it would have been the second city to run out of water. Although the state Government has taken necessary measures to avoid such a circumstance, it is but a harsh reality that the entire country is staring at the face of acute water crisis. 12 per cent of India’s population is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, thanks to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system and years of deficient rains. According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. The Chennai water crisis of last year gave an experience of the seriousness of the issue. The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual six per cent loss in the country’s GDP. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an individual requires around 25 litres of water daily for meeting his/her basic hygiene and food needs. The world and our country need an immediate and long-term solution to the water issues.

AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems is a pioneer in producing India’s first indigenously manufactured atmospheric water generator. AKVO Pod provides safe and pure drinking water using the AWG technology which replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating a dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions. AKVO Pod works on a simple plug and play method and consumes half a unit of electricity to run for an hour. The AKVO Pod has been priced at INR 99,000 inclusive of GST with direct to home delivery and installation.

AKVO has sold over 200 machines in India and Gulf countries. Moreover, the water generated by AKVO is cheaper than any RO/UV or bottled market water. While the RO/UV filtrated water wastes 4 litres of water for just 1 litre of drinking water, AKVO has zero water wastage. The bottled mineral water jars which is marketed is available anywhere between INR 4.50 to INR 5.00 per litre and always has the cleanliness suspicion tag attached with it, while the cost of water generated through AKVO AWG is only INR 1.75 to INR 2.00 per litre. The products of AKVO are designed to run at temperatures ranging from 10-degree Celsius to 60-degree Celsius with humidity factor of 30-80%, making it a viable model to deploy in coastal and hilly areas, especially in tropical countries that are rich in atmospheric moisture content. Even bigger units ranging from a 100 litres per day to 1000 litres per day are also available for larger usage.  

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Business World

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Pure Drinking Water ‘From Air’ Units For Home @Rs 1 Lakh: AKVO

But with no regulation or certification for Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG), companies cannot package and market these products says Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder & CEO, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems

Say good bye to water scarcity at home or in your office. Kolkata-based firm AKVO Water System brings the ‘Akvo Pod‘, an atmospheric water generator ideal for homes, offices and small businesses. This unit can make up to 50 liters of pure drinking water per day (apart from offering bigger machines for generating 1000 liters per day and more). The Akvo Pod, the company claims, uses a superior filter system that delivers pure and healthy drinking water at only Rs 2 per liter. “The only cost to operate the machine is its electric consumption making it a cost effective machine that uses the least amount of power to generate the most amount of water – with zero environmental impact,” says Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder & CEO, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems.

Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG) are machines that can produce water from air. They work on electricity and use the simple process of condensation and filtration to produce fresh and clean water which can be used as per one’s needs. No external source of water is required whatsoever. There are only a handful of companies that are offering such products, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems being one of them.

The landing cost of Akvo Pod, Bagga says, is Rs 99,000 including complete installation and change of filters once every year. The company is also offering a bigger unit with the daily capacity of 100 liters per day (lpd) at Rs 1.99 lakh, for home/office use. Even bigger units are also available for larger usage.

Bagga says AKVO works on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour. AKVO has now become India’s largest AWG manufacturer with over 200 machines sold in India and Gulf countries.

The company says its products are designed to run at temperatures ranging from 10-degree Celsius to 60-degree Celsius with humidity factor of 30-80%, making it a viable model to deploy in coastal and hilly areas, especially in tropical countries that are rich in atmospheric moisture content. The machines are rated for different run times and generation capacities. For example, one model can run for 24 hours and produce 100 litres in ideal condition. It draws 250Wh of energy per litre of water generated which also reduces the stress on the grid when runs on power generated from localised renewable sources.

Big Challenge 

There has been and will be multiple challenges, says Bagga. “We are facing a lot of challenges policy wise at the moment as till now there is no BIS Certification for AWG’s but BIS Certification is available for RO and UV filtered water. Although AKVO AWGs is way ahead in terms of the purity of the water, TDS levels yet we cannot package and market this water as there is no opportunity to apply for certification from Government. Secondly, the ever-growing dependence on underground water sources must stop. With more stringent policies which is the need of the hour unethical usage of groundwater and boring needs to be discontinued. The scale of AWGs in India is enormous and with the right guidelines,” Bagga adds who holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK and also hold an MBA Degree from The SP Jain Institute of Management Research.

Currently, AKVO has a top line of a little over Rs 2 crore and with an expanding distribution network and new markets in the Gulf, it expects to hit its target of Rs 12 crore in the coming financial year. “We’ve grown 3x in the last 3 years. And for FY 20-21 we will continue our growth momentum,” says Bagga.

Successful Usage 

AKVO played an instrumental role in providing an alternative solution in water scarcity hit Chennai during the summer months of 2019 which drew global attention. The Greater Chennai Corporation had installed AKVO atmospheric water generator in its premises on a trial basis. The company is in talks with other big MNCs in Chennai to install the machine at its offices. Currently over 50 machines have been installed in Chennai across schools, residential complexes, private institutions etc.

Over 44 AKVO machines have been installed at the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium, with an order for over 350 more. To strengthen their proposition in the Middle East AKVO atmospheric water systems have also installed their new 300 litre machine at SEWA (Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority). DP World has already installed their first machine in their Dubai port.

NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Haldia (6 machines running and providing water to 900 factory workers), Hero Moto Corp has installed one machine in its plant in Haryana, and other government bodies are also trusting AKVO machines in providing clean drinking water. Six machines have been installed in Lakshadweep Island as well in association with the local government.

“We are also setting up a 50-litre machine at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai which will run on a trial basis,” says Bagga.

What’s next for AKVO? “We are also working on a tabletop model which can replace bottled water at hotel rooms, reducing the plastic usage and also saving the environment,” says Bagga.

Cost Dynamics

This water is cheaper than any RO/UV or bottled market water, the company claims. “While the RO/UV filtrated water wastes 4 litres of water for just 1 litre of drinking water, our machine has zero water wastage. The bottled mineral water which is marketed is available anywhere between INR 4.50 to INR 5.00 per litre and always has the cleanliness suspicion tag attached with it, while ours costs only INR 1.75 to INR 2.00 per litre,” Bagga says.

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RJ Deepika

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WATER FROM AIR! Miracle Invention “AKVO” | No More WATER Scarcity | Future of Water
Recently I have got this opportunity to endorse this Miraculous Product “AKVOPOD” And I am so excited to share the whole story of getting Associated with this Brand AKVO. I am Thankful to Mr. Navkaran Singh Bagga for this opportunity and for sharing some valuable info about Akvo in this Video. Please Do Not Miss more Important Information about this product if you want to get the one at your Home, College or Office.
Watch the full story and learn more about the revolutionary “AKVOPOD” by clicking here.

Getting water straight from air at home

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Chennai, On National Technology Day, that marks India’s progress in the field of science and technology,  AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd, introduced the home model of their Atmospheric Water Generator, AKVO Pod.

AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems is a pioneer in producing India’s first indigenously manufactured atmospheric water generator. AKVO provides safe and pure drinking water using the AWG (Atmospheric Water Generator) technology which replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating a dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions. AKVO works on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour.

AKVO has now become India’s largest AWG manufacturer with over 200 machines sold in India and Gulf countries. Moreover, this water is cheaper than any RO/UV or bottled market water. While the RO/UV filtrated water wastes 4 litres of water for just 1 litre of drinking water, AKVO has zero water wastage. The bottled mineral water which is marketed is available anywhere between INR 4.50 to INR 5.00 per litre and always has the cleanliness suspicion tag attached with it, while ours costs only INR 1.75 to INR 2.00 per litre.

The AKVO Pod has been priced at INR 99, 000 plus GST as applicable and the pre-booking starts from 11th May 2020. Customers can pre-book an AKVO Pod for an initial sum of Rs. 5,000 during the inaugural launch period which will last till July 22nd, 2020. Customers pre-booking an AKVO Pod, have an added advantage of availing a discount of Rs.15,000 on the machine will also be applicable. AKVO Pod will be delivered within 45 days of the booking and comes with a 1-year warranty.

 At one hand, when the world is in the grasp of a vicious disease and is grappling for its survival, it is also peak summertime in the country which means acute water scarcity. To help ease the struggle, AKVO has come up with a remarkable solution through AKVO Pod. It is ideal for homes, offices and small businesses. This unit can make up to 50 litres of pure drinking water per day. The AKVO Pod features a superior filter system that delivers clear and healthy drinking water.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder and CEO AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd stated, “Although being home to nearly a sixth of the world’s population, India only gets 4% of the Earth’s fresh water. It has been our endeavour to change the dynamics by bringing water supply to the Indian masses at a very cost efficient and sustained manner. 70% of Indians have poor or no access to safe drinking water and 22% of Indians do not have water reaching their homes. With only 60% of water available for consumption by 2030 we are alarmingly marching towards a crisis that will require human intervention right away otherwise we will stare at a third world war and this time over water. We had always received a demand from our patrons for a unit that was suitable for their homes and offices. AKVO Pod is an answer to that requirement. We hope, with this, we can reduce some of our dependency on groundwater and make ourselves future ready.”

Water scarcity reports have become the norm across the globe. Our country is not far behind on the trend. 12 per cent of India’s population is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, thanks to excessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water management system and years of deficient rains.

According to the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. The Chennai water crisis of last year gave an experience of the seriousness of the issue.

 The CWMI report also states that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual six per cent loss in the country’s GDP. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an individual requires around 25 litres of water daily for meeting his/her basic hygiene and food needs. The world and our country need an immediate and long-term solution to the water issues.

While the entire country is under lockdown and manufacturing processes have halted all across, AKVO is ready to bring AKVO Pod in the market. They had been working on building this machine for a year, especially, keeping in the mind the Chennai Water Crisis of 2019 that made global headlines. Chennai has been one of the biggest markets for AKVO in the country with over 50 machines sold.

About: AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd:

AKVO’s Atmospheric Water Generators are created to tackle water problems and provide safe and pure drinking water using the air-to-water technology which replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating a dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions. The endeavour of AKVO is to combat water issues experienced worldwide by providing environmentally conscious water options to homes, businesses, industries, defence forces and in an emergency as a complete disaster relief solution. AKVO is founded by Mr. Navkaran Singh Bagga, a second-generation entrepreneur from Kolkata in India.  Visit us at www.akvosphere.com/ Call us on 1-800-313-8582.

Chennai water crisis: A wake-up call for Indian cities

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Dried-out taps, shutting down of schools, restaurants and hotels running out of business, police protection for protecting water resources, water being transported by train and tankers are not isolated events taking place in faraway places but are increasingly taking place almost every year in our neighbourhoods.

When situations like these strike an affluent and mega city, as it did in 2017-18 in Cape Town, they made headlines, bringing attention to the unfolding urban water crisis globally. Post Cape Town, multiple articles/reports pointed out the impending and existing water crisis for many Indian cities.

This year, it was Chennai that ran out of water.

The Chennai metropolitan area (CMA) — consisting of Chennai city, with a population of 4.9 million, and its adjoining areas — has an estimated population of 8.6 million and is the fourth-largest urban conglomerate in India.

Chennai was in the news four years ago for an entirely opposite reason but an equally serious situation — the unprecedented floods of December 2015, that drowned the city for many days, devastating lives and impacting businesses.

This year, the reservoirs that overflowed during the 2015-16 floods, dried out. Of Chennai’s total requirement of 830 MLD (million litres a day) water, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board(CMWSSB) was able to supply only about 525 MLD during the worst days of the crisis.

Empty reservoirs

The city of Chennai has four major reservoirs/lakes: Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarambakkam. These supply about 200 MLD of water. They fill up at the end of the Northeast monsoon (October-November) and supply water till the next monsoon season.

Post the 2015-16 season, the monsoon has been in deficit for two out of three years, with last year’s monsoon deficit being ~ 40 per cent. Due to a deficit monsoon this year, the reservoirs did not get filled up, bringing their combined storage to almost zero.

On June 30, 2019, the combined storage stood at just 18 million cubic feet (mcft) (0.1 per cent of total storage of 11,257 mcft). Last year, on the same day, the storage was 2,245 mcft. With a couple of months still left to go before rainfall, Chennai is in for a hard time in the coming months.

Chennai’s vanishing groundwater

Groundwater is extracted extensively, both within and outside Chennai city limits, to meet the city’s water demands. The CMWSSB and private tanker suppliers extract groundwater from rural areas on the outskirts of Chennai and transport it via tankers.

Within city limits, groundwater extraction takes place from about 0.42 million private groundwater wells, with 66 per cent of households having their own private wells. The result is overexploitation, with the city extracting almost twice the annual recharge.

Limited recharge due to the deficit monsoon and long-term indiscriminate groundwater extraction is making water tables fall rapidly, leading to wells drying up, deteriorating water quality and the risk of saline sea water ingress requiring well deepening or the search for wells further away from the city.

Dependence on tankers

Tankers supplying groundwater from outside the city limits are Chennai’s lifeline. At the height of the crisis, there were about 700-900 CMSSWB tankers making 9,700 trips, two-three times the usual trips to compensate for loss of supply from reservoirs, supplying about ~ 100 MLD of water and 4,500-5,000 private tankers, making five-six trips daily, supplying ~ 200 MLD.

However, groundwater overexploitation was made worse by limited recharge this year. It led to conflicts and tensions brewing up in and around the surrounding urban-rural areas, where many people were against indiscriminate groundwater mining in their area, forcing tankers to travel longer distances.

Inequity of impacts

With most of the city’s water supply dependent on water tankers, the impact of the water crisis this year was disproportionately felt by the poor. A 9,000-litre tanker from CMWSSB cost Rs 700-Rs 800, whereas private companies charged Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000.

With demand outstripping supply, the waiting period for tankers from CMSSWB stood at 15-25 days. High prices and low availability of public tankers made water access unaffordable for the people living in slums and lower income societies. The cost of buying water for many came to almost half of their monthly income.

Bad planning or limit of resilience?

After the drought of 2000, Chennai made it mandatory for buildings to have rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) installed. Rainwater harvesting did  initially help to increase recharge and improving water tables.

However, there are concerns that over the years, poor implementation and lack of maintenance had led to many of these RWH systems becoming dysfunctional. With the water crisis on its doorstep now, city utilities have started a drive to check the efficiency of rainwater harvesting and install more.

RWH alone can do little when unregulated encroachments, illegal construction and indiscriminate pumping is pushing the city to limits. Due to rapid urbanisation and encroachment, the number of water bodies in Chennai have reduced to 28 (2017) from 60 (1893) and area under these water bodies has shrunk from 12.6 sq km to just 3.2 sq km, significantly affecting the city’s capacity to recharge depleted groundwater.

Chennai currently has two desalination plants supplying 200 MLD. After the current crisis, work on another desalination plant has been initiated that would supply 150 MLD at a cost of 1,259 crore by 2021, with a plan to add another of 400 MLD capacity.

Would these heavy investments save the city? Many believe that in a city with more than 1,000 mm rainfall, expensive desalination plants consuming lots of energy with negative environmental externalities might not be the best answer.

The financial sustainability of desalination plants is also in question, with utilities spending Rs 45-50 per 1,000 litre to produce potable water but charging Rs 3-5 from consumers.

Way forward

The 2019 crisis is a wake-up call for Chennai and other cities in India. With cities being the powerhouse of the economy, much more is required to make them sustainable and livable.

Integrated urban water management is the need of the hour, with no single effort or intervention being able to achieve long-term resilience. Within city limits, efforts should be put into rejuvenating its existing and lost water bodies, properly installing and managing rainwater harvesting systems and increasing the reuse of treated water.

With much of Chennai’s sources of water lying outside city limits, efforts need to be put in place to secure reservoir catchments, recharge groundwater and build partnerships with farmers and stakeholders. Otherwise, conflicts over water sources would keep increasing.

Time is running out and there is an urgent need to act now on conserving water.

Source: downtoearth.org.in
Sujith Sourab Guntoju is an intern, while Mohammad Faiz Alam and Alok Sikka are researchers at the International Water Management Institute, New Delhi. This column is a personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Down To Earth

Why is Akvo the Future Of Water?

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As we try to envision a future for mankind on Mars, there is an urgent need to make our planet once again inhabitable for millions. For starters, everyone, regardless of where they live or how little they make, should have that most basic of human necessities — clean water.

There are 785 million people who do not get drinking water. And about half a million people die of diarrhea caused by contaminated drinking water every year, according to the World Health Organization. By 2030, 700 million people could be displaced because of intense water shortage, according to the UN.

The water problems of different regions call for a variety of solutions, and among the most talked-about innovations is making water out of thin air, literally.

At Akvo, our endeavour is to tackle the water issues experienced worldwide by providing environmentally sustainable solutions that minimize the use of groundwater and develop innovative cost efficient technology to provide clean and safe water for all.

Akvo® is clean tech company and a leader in the design and manufacture of a large range of atmospheric water generators (AWG) to provide a solution to global water needs. Our Atmospheric Water Generators are ideal for areas that are affected by water scarcity or water contamination as they require no water source to produce healthy, purified drinking water from the atmosphere.

With only 60% of the world’s water ready for consumption by 2030, Akvo, was born out of the idea to provide a solution to curb and tackle the global water scarcity by providing a cost effective machine that uses the least amount of power to generate the most amount of water – with zero environmental impact.

Air-to-water technology is the process of converting water vapor in the air (humidity) to water. Akvo atmospheric water generators replicates this natural process of condensation by simulating the dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions.

What is unique about this technology?

The atmosphere contains 37.5 Million Billion Gallons of water. This is part of the hydrological cycles which maintains air and water vapour making this a virtually unlimited source of water. The most abundant source of fresh water is the Earth’s atmosphere. When atmospheric humidity condenses, it falls as rain. Akvo® replicates this natural process of condensation by simulating the dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions. Our unique technology uses optimised dehumidification techniques to extract and condense moisture in the air to produce healthy, purified drinking water.

With an unlimited source of fresh water in the atmosphere and coupled with our technology to harness it, Akvo truly is the future of water with massive potential to create unlimited drinking water.