Tag: water independence

The Future of Water Sustainability and How Akvo is Pioneering Change

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Water is the foundation of life, yet over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. As climate change intensifies and water resources become increasingly scarce, the need for innovative, sustainable solutions has never been greater. The future of water sustainability lies in harnessing new technologies, reducing dependency on depleting sources, and ensuring equitable access. One such revolutionary innovation leading the way is atmospheric water generation (AWG)—the ability to extract pure, drinkable water from the air.

The Water Crisis: A Growing Global Concern

With rising global temperatures, droughts, groundwater depletion, and pollution are accelerating the water crisis. Traditional sources such as rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers are under immense stress due to urbanization and over-extraction. The UN predicts that by 2025, half of the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas. The question is no longer whether we should act—but how quickly we can adopt solutions that can safeguard future generations.

Innovation as the Key to Sustainable Water Access

While desalination and water recycling have played a role in addressing shortages, they come with high energy costs and environmental concerns. Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) present a sustainable, decentralized alternative by pulling moisture from the air and converting it into safe, potable water—without exploiting existing water sources. This breakthrough technology is not just a concept; it’s a reality reshaping water accessibility worldwide.

Akvo’s Role in Shaping the Future of Water Sustainability

At the forefront of this transformation is Akvo Atmospheric Water Generators, a brand dedicated to delivering clean water from the air, anytime and anywhere. Akvo’s technology is designed for households, businesses, and communities that need a reliable, sustainable, and independent water source. Here’s how Akvo is pioneering change:

1. Sustainable & Self-Sufficient Water Generation

Unlike conventional water sources that rely on pipelines or reservoirs, Akvo’s plug-and-play systems extract water directly from the humidity in the air, making it ideal for drought-prone and remote areas. This significantly reduces the pressure on overburdened freshwater supplies.

2. Energy-Efficient & Eco-Friendly Technology

Akvo’s AWGs are designed to minimize energy consumption, using advanced filtration and purification processes to produce high-quality drinking water without the carbon footprint of bottled water production or transportation.

3. Disaster Relief & Emergency Water Solutions

In times of natural disasters, Akvo’s technology offers a lifeline for communities without access to safe drinking water. Portable AWG units can be deployed in disaster-stricken areas, providing immediate relief without the logistical challenges of transporting bottled water.

4. Corporate & Residential Sustainability

From hotels and offices to eco-conscious homes, businesses and individuals are adopting Akvo’s solutions to reduce water wastage and reliance on municipal water supply. This shift contributes to a more resilient, sustainable future where water security is not dependent on shrinking natural reserves.

The Road Ahead: A Water-Secure Future

As we look ahead, water sustainability will require multi-faceted solutions, including policy reforms, conservation efforts, and technological innovation. Atmospheric Water Generation is poised to become a key component of this sustainable future, ensuring that clean water is accessible, affordable, and environmentally responsible.

Akvo is not just providing a product; it is pioneering a movement towards water independence. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Akvo is proving that the future of water sustainability is not about scarcity—it’s about innovation and accessibility.

The question is: Are we ready to embrace this future?

Ashish Vidyarthi Podcast

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Navkaran Singh Bagga (Founder and CEO of Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems) takes Ashish Vidyarthi on an educational journey on how Akvo Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) makes drinking water from Air.

Navkaran explains how their proprietary ground breaking water system and the modular system – Akvo Water Blocks utilises condensation to produce pure drinking water from the humidity in the air. Which meet large water supply needs, each block generating up to 500 litres of water daily allowing you to scale from 5,000 to 1,00,000 litres daily.

The discussion also addressed the challenges of water management in various areas of India & the world along with the importance of educating people about the possibility of creating limitless water with AWGs.

Akvo has deployed its products in 14 countries and multiple multinational companies have installed the Akvo Water Blocks, which are most effective in areas with high humidity, such as Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lakshadweep etc.

The conversation left Mr Vidyarthi fascinated and we hope more people become aware of this technology because Akvo gives you complete water independence without having to be bound to pipe lines and dubious water sources.

Brand Sutra

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Generating water out of thin air – that’s what Navkaran Singh Bagga, founder and CEO, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd., has been doing with AKVO’s atmospheric water generation technology, in his endeavour to address the water crisis in India

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Atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology was probably pioneered in Israel. How did you think of bringing the technology to India and what have been the highlights of AKVO’s journey so far?

In late 2016, as I was reading about Cape Town and its impending water scarcity and with major metros of India running out of ground water along with other natural resources, it dawned upon me that India needed a workable approach in mitigating this crisis. So I embarked upon a completely new, unsung terrain of manufacturing atmospheric water generators for India and Middle Eastern countries. After a lot of research online, I investigated this amazing source of water which is practically untapped. It took us over a year to build our first running machine. Up to now, we have sold over 450 machines worldwide. Some noteworthy highlights: 1. Hardua Mangarh in Damoh region of Madhya Pradesh faced an acute water crisis. The villagers had to climb down a 200-year-old well, just to fetch water. They had to form a human ladder going down the steep well, taking great risk to fetch a bucket of water. During summer, it often dried up, forcing people to migrate from the village. The Public Health & Environment Department of Madhya Pradesh approached AKVO to come up with a solution. Now, after over two years of the installation of the AKVO 365K machine unit there, villagers receive about 1,000 litres of fresh drinking water every day from air. 2. During the summer months of 2019, the Greater Chennai Corporation had installed AKVO atmospheric water generator in its premises on a trial basis. Currently, over 50 machines have been installed in Chennai across schools, residential complexes, private institutions etc. 3. Over 44 AKVO machines have been installed at the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium, with an order for over 350 more. AKVO atmospheric water systems have also installed their new 300 litre machine at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority. DP World has already installed their first machine in their Dubai port.

How have your operations grown since you started out in 2017 – what is the company’s topline currently? What is the strength of your user base and distribution network? What kind of competition is there in the market?

We have targeted a topline of Rs 5 crore this financial year. We currently have a user base in eight countries across the world like India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Chile, Philippines, South Africa, ranging from large corporates to governments and households. There are many new players entering the market, but we are the largest, one of the oldest and most established brands in India.

How much does an AKVO machine cost initially and how cost effective is it compared to RO/UV or bottled drinking water?

Our home model AKVO Pod can make up to 50 litres of pure drinking water per day. It is India’s first indigenously manufactured atmospheric water generator. Our AWG technology 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. Moreover, this water is cheaper than any RO/UV or bottled market water. While the RO/UV filtrated water wastes four litres of water for just one litre of drinking water, AKVO has zero water wastage. Bottled mineral water is available at Rs 4.50 to Rs 5.00 per litre, while ours costs only Rs 1.75 to Rs 2.00 per litre.

Your recent campaign #OwnYourWater literally made waves. Tell us about your brief to The Voice Company for the campaign and the kind of ROI that you have got.

The brief was simple. We wanted our innovative technology to be the highlight. Our aim is to make everyone water independent and change the system. The Voice Company really stood out in how simple the ideas were, and how interesting, from a content perspective. We launched the campaign only in June, hence we don’t have any exact figures yet.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zeT78HsWnzk

What are your expansion plans going forward? What is the kind of growth you target? What potential do you see in our country with severe water scarcity and beyond it?

We will be adding more Indian metros – Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa and Kochi, and internationally, we are targeting at least five more countries – USA, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Uganda, to our distribution list. We are also targeting 100% year-on-year growth at least for the next three years. More and more households are looking at our technology to solve the drinking water issues that is prevalent across the country. We need to reduce our dependency on groundwater and look for permanent solutions to the global water crisis.

What is a motto or life mantra that you follow all the time?
I believe that there is no substitute for hard work.

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AFAQS!

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Kolkata, AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt Ltd, the largest AWG manufacturers of the country, strengthened their foothold in the B2C segment, with a breakthrough campaign #OwnYourWater. The pioneering campaign showcases, in a witty way, how water can literally come from thin air. Indeed, when people have their own access to drinking water, they have to be at the mercy of large corporations with deep pockets overcharging them for something that is our basic right. One should not have to keep buying water containers, keep changing filters, keep calling our local shops for a refill every time they are thirsty. It is time to change the system, so the next world war is not fought for man’s most basic need. It is time to de-commodify the world’s biggest commodity.

Elaborating about the campaign, Navkaran Singh Bagga, founder and CEO AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems stated, “Through this campaign we wanted to send out a simple yet strong message of #OwnYourWater. In India, less than 50% of the population has no access to safe drinking water and about 200,000 people die every year for the lack of clean water. Half a billion of the world face severe water scarcity all year around. The fact that drinking water is soon going to be a scarce resource is not new information anymore. AKVO Atmospheric Water Generators are the solution to the problem. These machines work on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour. AKVO uses a powerful proprietary organic filtration process that outputs pure drinking water that contains no harmful chemicals, bacteria, viruses or pesticides. The water collected from the 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. It is time to reduce our dependency on groundwater, bottled water or paying in any form for man’s basic need. We aim to make everyone water independent and change the system. When I was looking for partners for the second phase of our growth, the ideas from The Voice Company really stood out in how simple they were, and how interesting, from a content perspective.”

The creative mandate has been given to The Voice Company, a hybrid advertising and content agency based out of Gurgaon for its phased-out launch. The Voice Company, founded by Bodhisatwa Dasgupta in 2020, specializes in creating voices for emerging brands, through various mediums. The company has worked closely with Milkbasket, ibis Hotels, MG Motor, Fahrenheit, Crossbeats and a few other accounts.

Bodhisatwa Dasgupta, founder and intern, The Voice Company further added, ‘What really stood out for me was the technology AKVO had built. It was something straight out of a science fiction movie. The films sort of wrote themselves. I am happy that the films have gotten the traction we hoped they would, and the enquiries are beginning to pour in. With the great collaboration of The Hip Element who are revamping the website and the lovely people at DhikChik Productions who turned around the films in record time, I think we have a nice little launch planned.’

https://youtu.be/LCIM5E_CX0E

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Your Story

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Kolkata-based cleantech company AKVO designs and manufactures a range of atmospheric water generators (AWG) that require no water source to produce purified drinking water from the atmosphere. Water made using AWG technology from AKVO costs only Rs 1.75 to Rs 2 per litre.

Water scarcity reports have become the norm across the globe. And our country has not managed to avert the crisis. According to a 2018 WaterAid report, over 12 percent 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.

Innovation is the need of the hour and a Kolkata-based company is doing just that by producing pure drinking water out of air.

Sounds like magic? Well, it is science, says AKVO Atmospheric Water Systems, which claims to be the first player in India to manufacture atmospheric water generators indigenously.

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, without requiring any external source of water.

Using the AWG technology, the Kolkata-based company replicates the natural process of condensation by simulating a dew point, which allows it to make water continuously, even in low humidity conditions.

The brainchild of Kolkata based second-generation entrepreneur, Navkaran Singh Bagga, who started this venture in 2017, AKVO works on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour.

The brainchild of Kolkata based second-generation entrepreneur, Navkaran Singh Bagga, who started this venture in 2017, AKVO works on a simple plug and play method and consumes one unit of electricity to run for an hour. 

Says CEO Navkaran,

“The water resources in the world are fast depleting, and it is time to make the world water positive and renew our groundwater sources. One of the solutions to this is AWG. By generating your own water, you reduce the consumption of groundwater and help in renewing and replenishing our groundwater resources. These factors made me reflect and lead my team in manufacturing AKVO, which is future-ready.”

Navkaaran points out that while marketable water is available from Rs 15 to Rs 20 per litre and always has the cleanliness suspicion tag attached with it, water made using the AWG technology from AKVO costs only Rs 1.75 to Rs 2 per litre.

“AKVO gives you complete water independence without having to be bound to pipelines and water sources. Ours is India’s most cost effective machine that uses the least amount of power to generate the most amount of water, with zero environmental impact,” the Founder adds.

How AWG works

AKVO currently has five versions of the machine available: 36K which produces 100 litres/day, 55K, which produces 150 litres/day, 110K, which produces 300 litres/day, 180K, which produces 500 litres/day, and 365K that produces 1,000 litres/day. Navkaran says the company also customises the machine according to the user’s need. 

AKVO’s machine depends on the humidity and temperature in the geographical location it is installed in. It is designed to run at temperatures ranging from 10-degree Celsius to 60-degree Celsius with humidity factor of 30-80 percent, making it a viable model to deploy in coastal and hilly areas, especially in tropical countries that are rich in atmospheric moisture content. 

“We will be launching a household model in 2020 and it will be a certain game changer. We are also working on a table-top model that can replace bottled water at hotel rooms, reducing the plastic usage and also saving the environment,” says Navkaran.

“Our current machines can also be used for domestic purpose but since the capacity range starts from 100 litres per day, we are coming up with a more compact model which can produce 25 litres per day and would suit an average household,” Navkaran adds.

AKVO is using heat exchange and refrigeration technology to generate water from air. 

The team

AKVO consists of a team of 25 members, nine of which work in production, research, and prototyping. 

AKVO’s global sales and marketing head Pradeep Verma is a veteran of the water industry having worked with Eureka Forbes and then Marmon Holdings, Inc, which is a Berkshire Hathaway company. Verma has over two decades of experience in sales and business development having exposure to Indian and other South Asian markets across industries.

AKVO Team

AKVO Team

Founder Navkaran has an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK and also holds an MBA Degree from The SP Jain Institute of Management Research. 

He is also the Director at Trishan Metals Pvt Ltd which is a joint venture with IFB Industries Ltd for manufacturing specialised Automotive Grade Steel. Navkaran has also been the Chairman of ALFA Network, the Youth Forum of Assocham, which has a clear focus on promoting entrepreneurship in India. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the CII-Yi Kolkata Chapter for the year 2016.

The target audience

Navkaran says that AKVO’s target audience will comprise anyone who needs fresh pure drinking water or areas that are facing water crisis due to depleting natural resources or people looking for an environmentally safe and renewable source. 

AKVO has been successful in making its presence felt across the globe and in India. “We have a significant number of customers from all industries and I’m proud to say that at least 5,000 people consume water from our machines daily,” says Navkaran.

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. The Public Health and Environment Department of Madhya Pradesh approached AKVO to come up with a solution. Now, after 10 months after the installation of the AKVO 365K machine unit in Hardua, villagers receive about 1,000 litres of fresh drinking water every day from air.

Over 50 machines have been installed in Chennai—which faced a severe water crisis last year—across schools, residential complexes, private institutions, etc. The company is also in talks with other big MNCs in Chennai to install the machine at its offices. 

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 has also installed its new 300 litre machine at SEWA (Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority). DP World, a logistics company in Dubai, has installed its first machine in its Dubai port.

NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd Haldia, and other government bodies are working with AKVO machines to provide clean drinking water.

Six machines have been installed in Lakshadweep island as well in association with the local government. 

The present outlook and future

The  Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report released by the Niti Aayog in 2018 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 percent loss in the country’s GDP.

“For a product like AKVO, the future is like a treasure box as there are multiple channels through which this product can serve humanity as a whole. The water produced from AKVO AWGs 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, and has been marked safe for drinking,” Navkaran explains. 

AKVO has grown 3X in the last three years and is looking at continuing the growth momentum for FY20-21 as well.

Presently, AKVO has sold over 200 machines worldwide. It is bootstrapped so far but is planning on raising funds soon as the firm is currently in talks with a few investors.

While speaking about the revenue, Navkaran adds, “Currently, we’re at a top line of a little over Rs 2 crore and with an expanding distribution network and new markets in the Gulf, we expects to hit our target of Rs 12 crore in the coming financial year.”

There are a few other players in the industry like Watermaker, but Navkaran claims that AKVO is the largest AWG manufacturer in India. “We’re the lowest in power consumption per litre of water generation globally,” he adds.

According to the CWMI report, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and others) are in the danger of reaching zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. The country clearly needs immediate and long-term solution like AKVO’s AWG to effectively address the water scarcity issue.

(Edited by Evelyn Ratnakumar)

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Unkrate

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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

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
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