Turning Air Into Water: Akvo’s Sustainable Answer to the Global Water Crisis
Access to clean drinking water remains a critical global issue — over 2.2 billion people lack it, according to the World Health Organization. As the world marked World Water Day on March 22, innovators like Navkaran Singh Bagga, founder and CEO of Akvo, are offering bold new solutions. His company is tackling the water crisis by literally turning air into safe, potable water.
Through Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) technology, Akvo’s machines extract humidity from the air, condense it into water, and purify it to drinking standards. “AWG is cutting-edge technology that captures water from the air we breathe,” says Bagga. “Once the moisture is condensed, it’s filtered and sterilised, ensuring the water is clean, safe, and chemical-free.”
He likens the process to the condensation seen on a cold glass on a humid day — only industrialized and highly controlled. The water passes through carbon and sediment filters, UV treatment, and sometimes reverse osmosis to meet stringent quality standards.
Akvo’s innovation not only reduces dependence on groundwater and plastic-packaged water but also offers a sustainable, decentralized water solution for homes, businesses, and regions facing severe water scarcity.
As the climate crisis worsens, such renewable technologies are not just impressive – they’re essential.
The global water crisis, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and population growth, requires immediate and innovative action. Navkaran Singh Bagga, CEO & Founder of AKVO, highlights how technology is reshaping water management for a sustainable future. Digital tools like IoT sensors, satellite imagery, and AI-driven analytics enable real-time monitoring and predictive insights, allowing water managers to address issues before they escalate. Circular water economies and advanced wastewater treatment further contribute by transforming waste into reusable water, reducing reliance on dwindling freshwater sources.
Equally groundbreaking is Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG), which harnesses moisture from the air to produce safe drinking water, even in arid regions. Precision agriculture and smart irrigation optimize water use in farming, addressing a sector responsible for 70% of global water withdrawals. Achieving global water resilience, however, requires more than technology; collaborative ecosystems, supportive policies, and community empowerment are critical. By leveraging innovation, fostering partnerships, and ensuring equitable access, we can transition from crisis to sustainability.
Our world faces an urgent water crisis, affecting billions. It’s a scenario that requires immediate action, innovative thinking, and global collaboration. Inspired by the ancient concept of ‘Akrasia’ — the act of knowing what is right but not acting upon it — we are determined to bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
In this video, Navkaran Singh Bagga, CEO of Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems discusses the harsh reality of water scarcity, the universal need for sustainable solutions, and how Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems is rising to meet this challenge. The Atmospheric Water Generation Systems represents more than just technological innovation; they are a beacon of hope, turning air into life-sustaining water.
Let’s move from inaction to impact, from scarcity to abundance. Share your thoughts, your actions, and let’s spread the word.
Together, we can create a future where access to clean water is a reality for all.
As the global population grows, the demand for water increases in various sectors such as agriculture, industry, and domestic use. This heightened demand places additional stress on already limited freshwater resources, leading to water scarcity in many parts of the world.
What is Water scarcity? It refers to a situation where the demand for water exceeds the available supply within a particular region or country. It can occur due to physical water scarcity, which is a result of inadequate natural water resources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater, or due to economic water scarcity, where the infrastructure and technology required to access and distribute water are lacking.
Population growth exacerbates water scarcity through several mechanisms:
Increased water consumption: As more people inhabit an area, the overall demand for water rises. This includes not only drinking water but also water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily household needs. As a result, water supplies may be strained, especially in regions with limited freshwater resources.
Agricultural demands: Growing populations require more food production, which in turn necessitates increased irrigation for crops. Agriculture is a major water consumer, and as populations expand, more water is needed to sustain food production. This can further deplete water sources and contribute to water scarcity.
Urbanization: Rapid population growth often leads to increased urbanization, with more people moving to cities. Urban areas require significant water supplies to support their populations, industries, and infrastructure. If urban planning and water management practices are inadequate, this can result in water shortages and scarcity.
Competition for water resources: Increasing population densities can lead to competition for limited water resources among different sectors and user groups. Conflicts may arise between agricultural, industrial, and domestic water users, further exacerbating water scarcity.
In some regions, population growth has outpaced the development of water infrastructure and management systems, leading to water scarcity issues. Additionally, climate change can impact rainfall patterns, leading to droughts or irregular precipitation, further aggravating water scarcity problems.
Efforts to address water scarcity involve a combination of conservation measures, efficient water use, infrastructure development, and sustainable management practices.
THIS KOLKATA-BASED STARTUP IS PROVIDING WATER SCARCITY SOLUTIONS TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS, MNCS AND OTHER COUNTRIES
The scarcity of water across the globe has reached an alarming level. 12 % 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 are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. The 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 6% loss in the country’s GDP.
The Chennai Water Crisis of 2019 has established the harsh truth that we are depleting all sources of water. According to a 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.
Call for Collaborative Effort
“Government cannot alone mitigate this human-made catastrophe, it has to be a collaborative effort with private entities or an innovation which makes people self-reliant and future-ready,” says Navkaran Singh Bagga, Founder and CEO of AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems, a Kolkata based start-up that produces indigenously manufactured atmospheric water generator.
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.
Bagga further adds, “Agricultural irrigation is one area that needs immediate discourse as it accounts for 90% of freshwater withdrawals. Farmers from water-stressed areas in India must be incentivized to not produce water-intensive crops. Natural aquifers and catchment areas must be preserved.”
Is there an immediate solution to the water crisis?
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 needs an immediate and long term solution to the water issues.
However, Bagga believes that there cannot be an immediate solution to a human made disaster over centuries. He says, “It will require drastic measures that must be monitored and audited to find any long term solution.”
Talking about the seriousness of the water scarcity and how this problem needs to be dealt on a macro level, Bagga affirms, “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.”
He further adds, “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 in alternative and eco-friendly sources of energy.
Akvo’s AWG Technology – Producing Pure Drinking Water
Access to clean drinking water should not be a privilege for some, it should be a right for all. When the 1948 universal declaration on human rights was written, no one could foresee a day when water would be a contested area. But living in 2020, it is not an exaggeration to say that the lack of access to clean water is one of the greatest human rights violation in the world.
Akvo AWG replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating the dew point, which allows it to make water continuously using plug and play method. The machines can generate water entirely depending on the level of humidity and atmospheric temperature which is ideal for Indian conditions to function to its optimum level.
Akvo Pod
Akvo recently introduced the country’s first home model of Atmospheric Water Generator, 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 Pod features a superior filter system that delivers clear and healthy drinking water. It works on a simple plug and play method and consumes half a unit of electricity to run for an hour.
Positive Impact of Akvo’s Projects Across the Globe
For a product like AKVO, the future is like a treasure box as there are multiple channels through which this product can serve the humanity as a whole. It is all about breaking the chain and setting a new order for the future generations.
Hardua Mangarh is a dusty hamlet in Damoh region of Madhya Pradesh, with a population of around 1,500 faced acute water scarcity with no proper water system even seven decades, post-independence. It was a daily ordeal for the populace of Damoh region to walk a minimum of 4 km and then form a human chain or human ladder going down the steep well to fetch a bucket of water.
The Public Health & Environment Department of Madhya Pradesh approached Akvo to come up with a solution. Now after a year of the installation of the Akvo 365K machine unit in Hardua Mangarh, villagers receive about 1000 ltrs of fresh drinking water every day from air.
Akvo also 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 and other big names like NTPC and Indian Oil Corporation.
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.
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 have also installed a 300 litre machine at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority.
Akvo’s roadmap
Currently, besides the industrial, corporate and housing complex units, Akvo is offering the 50-liter version of AKVO POD and will soon launch the 25-liter model for nuclear families as well. Bagga says, “We are also working incessantly on other smaller models which can replace bottled water at hotel rooms, reducing the plastic usage and also saving the environment.”
“We are 100% bootstrapped. We adopted this route as it will allow us to build a solid bottom-line focused business approach first. However, we are planning on raising funds soon. We are currently in talks with a few investors,” concludes Bagga.
Read full article https://unkrate.com/2020/07/this-kolkata-based-startup-is-providing-water-scarcity-solutions-to-the-state-governments-mncs-and-other-countries/?fbclid=IwAR3HG1vTv2MCNnhrbd2ZatPDDhQvOjN6X3rCIFl-3617A2ayCZAn974CS0Y
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.
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