How Water-Tech Startups Make Every Drop Count
From pulling drinking water straight out of thin air to robots cleaning sewers, Indian startups are reshaping how we use, conserve, and recycle water.
Solinas: Robots for Clean Cities
Chennai-based Solinas builds AI-powered solutions like the Endobot pipeline crawler and Homosep robot to eliminate manual scavenging. Its tools help municipalities detect leaks, reduce water loss, and manage sewers safely and efficiently.
Akvo: Drinking Water from Air
Akvo decentralises clean water supply by producing it at the point of consumption—no tankers, groundwater, or heavy infrastructure. Founder Navkaran Singh Bagga explains:
“The idea was to solve a critical problem, build scalable technology, and deliver value. Water-tech checked all those boxes.”
Akvo’s AWGs use condensation, IoT monitoring, and multi-stage filtration. Modular rooftop units allow customers to scale water production sustainably.
Uravu Labs: Renewable Water
Uravu Labs turns atmospheric moisture into mineral-rich water using liquid salts and renewable heat (solar, biomass, industrial waste heat). Already supplying the hospitality sector, Uravu has conserved 2 lakh litres of groundwater and reduced single-use plastic dependence. Its water cost has dropped from ₹5 per litre to ₹1.5, with a target of 50 paise per litre by 2026.
Indra Water: Smarter Wastewater Treatment
Mumbai-based Indra Water focuses on industrial wastewater pre-treatment. Its patented ElectroX system removes up to 90% of pollutants, stabilises pH, and reduces sludge. With clients across industries from textiles to steel, Indra is pushing for water reuse at scale.
Funding and Growth
The water-tech segment in India raised $174 million (2018–2025), peaking at $56.2 million last year.
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Solinas has raised $4M (backed by Zerodha’s Rainmatter).
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Akvo is preparing a $3M raise for R&D and expansion.
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Indra secured $4M Series A funding from Emerald Ventures and others.
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Uravu recently raised $1.2M to scale capacity and lower costs.
Why It Matters
India loses nearly 600 MLD (megalitres per day) of water in tier-1 cities due to leaks, illegal connections, and contamination—worth ₹163 crore daily. With climate pressures rising, water-tech startups are filling critical gaps in supply, conservation, and recycling.
These innovators are proving that every drop counts—not just for today, but for a sustainable future.
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