Mini-grids led Water Treatment Units can add up to USD 600 million annually to the Indian economy

~ Less than 50% of the Indian population have access to potable water

~ Waterborne diseases have an impact of approximately USD 600 million per year on the Indian economy

~ WTU not only ensures access to potable water to the rural communities but also enables them to undertake other income-generating activities

As part of Smart Power India’s on-ground interventions, it became apparent that a large chunk of the rural population lacks proper access to and is consecutively unaware of the importance of potable water. This is an opportunity for Energy Service Company Outsourcing (ESCOs) to play a greater role in educating the masses towards the benefits of purified water and driving customer uptake. In states like UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand, SPI has been working with ESCOs for the past six years to ensure rural communities receive potable water for consumption.

Less than 50% of the Indian population have access to safe drinking water. According to a 2018 report by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) and the ministry of health and family welfare, water contamination claims around 2,400 lives due to waterborne diseases a year, crippling the economy with an estimate of USD 600 million. It is also learned that women in rural parts of India spend up to 700 hours each year fetching drinking water.

Water Treatment Units (WTU) provide an opportunity for better access to potable water to the rural masses, not only by improving the quality of life for people but also by improving health outcomes. Thus, freeing up time to undertake other income-generating activities instead of using that time to procure water. Additionally, WTUs themselves provide a sustained livelihood option as well to the local community.

Jaideep Mukherjee, CEO, Smart Power India, shares, “Health infrastructure is an issue in the remotest corners of the nation. Hence, it becomes even more important to ensure that these communities get access to potable water. Establishing water treatment units not only ensure good health and increased contribution to the economy by the rural community, but it also opens avenues for sustainable livelihood options”

Running WTUs are energy-intensive and require a reliable supply of electricity from the main grid network. Despite the fact that India is 100% electrified, the power supply is often inconsistent – especially in parts of rural India. These are areas where mini-grid developers step in to fill this gap by providing a clean and consistent supply of energy.

Mr.Mukherjee adds, “WTUs that run on electricity from mini-grids are beneficial to mini-grid developers as they prove to be a considerable load on the grid, with an average monthly energy consumption of 14% of the total mini-grid load. WTUs also ensure that mini-grids are being utilized as per their respective potential, ensuring its financial sustainability. Also, WTUs are relatively easy to set up across geographies, and require minimal operational support.”

About Smart Power India (SPI)

SPI, a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation was established in 2015 to develop and scale sustainable models to accelerate electricity access and spur economic development amongst the rural underserved communities. It is committed to create knowledge and accountability in the public domain through robust evidence-based research and provide field and analytical support to the Government, the private sector, implementers, and other donors in their pursuits for rural electricity access.  SPI develops and disseminates relevant knowledge in the rural electricity access and services space with an aim to promote research and innovation and partners with policymakers, practitioners, and academic institutions to come up with actionable insights and innovative strategies. While SPI’s work covers the spectrum of supply and demand-side issues of rural electricity, its focus is the last-mile customer. SPI exchanges knowledge by promoting and facilitating platforms for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative research, networking, knowledge-sharing and collaborative research