changeadminWater scarcity is rapidly emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, bringing with it a host of complex issues that can no longer be overlooked.
The limited availability of water threatens to disrupt nearly every aspect of life, undermining public health, hindering development, jeopardising food security, and straining efforts toward sustainability, sanitation, and peace.
Recent years have witnessed some of the most widespread and damaging droughts in recorded history. According to the OECD, the global land area affected by dry conditions has more than doubled since 1900, with many regions facing water shortages.
India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is facing a severe water shortage crisis, which has become one of the country’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
Rapid economic expansion, urbanisation, and population growth are major factors contributing to the overexploitation of groundwater, inefficient water management, and pollution.
The problem is exacerbated by outdated infrastructure, leaky pipes, unregulated borewells, untreated wastewater discharge into rivers, and inefficient irrigation practices.
According to WEF’s annual Global Risks Report 2025, ‘Water supply shortage’ is the number one risk for India, even ahead of ‘Pollution (air, water, soil)’.
Fortunately, the good news is that many businesses have stepped up to address water-related challenges, with a growing number of startups pioneering innovative solutions for sustainable water management.
From IoT-enabled monitoring systems to cutting-edge renewable water production technologies, these technology-enabled ventures are reshaping water conservation, laying the groundwork for a greener, more resilient future.
Here is a list of 9 Indian water-tech startups.
Digital Paani
Founded in 2020 by a father-daughter duo, Mansi Jain and Rajesh Jain, in Gurugram, DigitalPaani addresses water management inefficiencies through an IoT-enabled platform aimed at industrial and municipal facilities.
In 2024, they appeared in Season 3 of Shark Tank India TV show, where the founders cited a study that mentioned 70 per cent of India’s 90,000 installed water treatment plants are unable to function properly.
By offering real-time assessments, process automation, and predictive maintenance, the platform enhances operational efficiencies of the plants, improves water quality, and reduces costs. Its flexible business model includes direct sales and service partnerships.
With major clients such as The Leela Hotels, Dr Reddy’s, Reliance Retail, and Vedanta, the Gurugram-based startup is set to address India’s water crisis, targeting more facilities and buildings.
WEGoT Utility Solutions
WEGoT Utility Solutions is a Chennai-based startup that offers a smart water monitoring system called Aqua, featuring high-precision ultrasonic sensors that enable real-time tracking of water usage, pressure, and quality.
Designed for residents, businesses, and industries, the system helps detect leaks, prevent water theft, and reduce consumption, offering a return on investment within a quick timeframe in large residential complexes.
Founded in 2015 by Vijay Krishna, WEGoT’s platform enables end-users and facility managers to monitor, manage, and reduce water consumption. Their business model makes smart water metering affordable through free hardware and a monthly subscription, increasing accessibility for a wide market.
WEGoT Utility Solutions was the winner in the ‘Drinking-Water’ category of the National Startup Award 2021, the Indian government’s flagship event to recognise entrepreneurs and startups.
Uravu Labs
Founded in 2017 in Bengaluru, Uravu Labs has developed a renewable water technology that converts atmospheric moisture into high-quality drinking water using only solar, waste heat, or biomass energy.
Started by Swapnil Shrivastav, Venkatesh RY, and Govind Balaji, Uravu Labs’ solution effectively gathers and purifies water, making it ideal for areas far from traditional utilities.
With recent funding, the climate-tech water conservation startup Uravu Labs also wants to introduce solutions for commercial and industrial applications, particularly data centres, hospitality, and controlled agriculture.
The scalable, eco-friendly approach of Uravu presents a promising path toward addressing water scarcity across diverse geographies.
Vassar Labs
The Hyderabad-based Vassar Labs is a water-tech startup offering water management solutions powered by IoT, AI, and machine learning.
Founded in 2014 by Laxmiprasad Putta, Nikhilesh Kumar, and Chandrakiran Mallarapu, Vassar’s platform provides real-time data from satellites, sensors, and models to provide complete visibility of water assets across villages, cities, districts, and states, enabling smarter water consumption decisions.
Vassar Labs collaborates with various state governments in India to better predict floods, droughts, and rainfall, enabling climate planning and water conservation.
Boon
Boon specialises in water purification solutions, providing affordable and clean drinking water. Founded in 2014 by mother-son duo, Dr. Vibha Tripathi and Advait Kumar, as Swajal, it later changed its name to Boon.
Boon partners with hospitality players, corporate firms and government bodies, generating revenue through water sales, machine sales, and tech-enabled services.
The company also has WaterATMs, a solar-powered water refilling solution, through which customers can buy water in their own bottles at an affordable cost. The installations are available at railway stations and low-income housing communities.
Agua Water Systems
Kochi-based water-tech startup Agua Water Systems aims to save water and promote fair distribution through its water management solution.
Founded in January 2020, Agua India combines technology and logistics to address drinking water accessibility, scarcity, and efficiency. Through a mobile app, users can connect with a network of certified water suppliers for on-demand delivery of water jars, tankers, accessories and purifiers.
Nimble Vision
Founded in 2017 in Bengaluru by Chinnayya Math and Vaishali Math, Nimble Vision develops IoT-based solutions for water conservation, with a flagship WiFi-enabled smart water level controller and meter that helps optimise usage in homes, apartments, and industrial spaces.
The system offers real-time monitoring of water tank levels, consumption patterns, and historical usage, along with automated alerts for leaks, overflows, and abnormal usage. It also enables sump level tracking and can automate refills via SMS or email.
FluxGen
FluxGen is a water-tech startup founded by Ganesh Shankar in 2019, dedicated to transforming how industries and large campuses manage water.
Bangalore-based FluxGen’s core offering is AquaGen, a SaaS water intelligence platform powered by AI and IoT, which tracks, measures, and analyses real-time water use, flow, leaks, and quality, helping clients reduce their water consumption.
Earlier this year, the startup raised Rs 28 crore in Pre-Series A funding, which it plans to use to expand into new markets in India, the Middle East and Africa.
Ekam Eco Solutions
Ahmedabad-based Ekam Eco Solutions promotes water conservation and sustainable sanitation through eco-friendly innovations, including its flagship product, Zerodor, a waterless urinal system that saves up to 1.5 lakh litres of water annually per unit.
The patented technology retrofits onto urinals, enabling flush-free, odourless operations at airports, shopping malls, hotels, cinema halls, commercial complexes, etc.
Founded by IIT Delhi alumni Uttam Banerjee and Sachin Joshi, the company also offers natural sewage care products, composting systems, and environmentally safe cleaning solutions for both residential and commercial use.
Ekam Eco Solution also appeared on the Shark Tank India show. Despite funding rejection from the sharks on the reality show, Ekam Eco Solutions went on to receive investment and strategic support from Rainmatter Foundation (Zerodha).
Wrapping Up – Every Drop Matters
Whether it was an ancient Indian civilisation, Dholavira, 4000 years ago, or it is now, focusing on water conservation and sustainable water management is essential.
Currently, India represents 17% of the world’s population; however, it has access to only 4% of global freshwater resources. The country’s complex water issues require more than isolated efforts; they demand a collaborative ecosystem.
While significant progress has been made, immense opportunities remain, especially in bridging the gap between urban and rural water challenges. The combined efforts of startups, government agencies, and NGOs will be vital in scaling impactful solutions.
Together, these stakeholders can ensure that every Indian has reliable access to clean water, preserving this precious resource for generations to come. The road ahead may be challenging, but with innovation and partnership driving progress, a water-secure India is well within reach.
Even at the individual level, many of us can play a part in water conservation in our homes, installing rainwater harvesting systems, and becoming conscious about its use.
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