Grundfos India realises the ‘water for all’ dream for rural India

Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd (Grundfos India)
a forerunner in sustainable pump solutions, is on the path to enhance sustainable water management and sanitation and improving access for rural communities of India. As a company which is committed to a greener and cleaner planet, Grundfos India constantly focuses on offering energy efficient and sustainable pumping solutions, of which solar water pumps is one among them.

Solar pump coupled with hand pump
85 per cent of rural India’s water supply comes from borewells. A borewell hand or electrical pump, thus, is one of the most essential product. The concept of installing both a borewell pump running on solar energy as well as hand pump using Grundfos SQ Flex pumps, ensures water supply throughout the day without the drudgery of pumping by hand. The hand pump is, thus, used only on cloudy days when the water stored in tanks is proves insufficient.

Quantifiable inputs
• Close working with Groundwater Survey & Development Agency (GSDA – Maharashtra Government Department, a pioneer in dual pump scheme) for a solution on dual pump
• Propagating the usage of this scheme across India to various state governments through workshops and seminars
• Working with solution providers to increase awareness and get them installed in those identified villages

Quantitative impact
• 28,837 SQ flex pumps installed which has contributed to an annual energy savings of 36 million kilowatt-hours and reduction in annual carbon emission to 0.72 million tonnes of CO2
• Power savings due to reduction in transmission losses; considering the 20 per cent losses, additional savings, 9 million kilowatt-hours and 0.18 million tonnes of CO2
• Around 28.8 MW of connected avoided and investment in last mile connectivity saved.
• Around 7.2 million villagers across India can now access water
• The solar pump was supplied to over 100 villages as a CSR initiative; brining water to 25,000 people in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh

Qualitative impact
• Reduced drudgery for women/girl children who often carry water for long distances
• Improved sanitation in villages where the water tap has been installed near every house, thus, supporting the government’s flagship ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’
• Reduction in medical expenses because of the improved water quality and sanitation
• Additional water made available for irrigational and agricultural purpose, thus, providing a boost to the villager’s income
• Overall a considerable socio-economic impact

Using surface water for sustainable solutions
Around 64 per cent of India’s usable rain water is surface water and 36 per cent percolates to the ground (aquifers). It makes logical sense to utilise the surface water, water from lakes, ponds, rivers, canals, reservoirs, open wells etc., to supply drinking water as its treatment using UF systems is simpler and cost effective as compared to RO systems which are needed for ground water. The vital minerals remain intact and hence, water, post the treatment, is not only clean and safe, but also healthy and tasty.

Grundfos Lifelink is a sustainable business in every sense, environmentally, socially and financially. Lifelink is also an innovative business model in which the users – typically small villages in Africa, Asia or Latin America – purchase the system and finance it through a local micro-financing partner, with whom Lifelink cooperates. Repayment of the loan is made by the users paying for their water via their mobile telephones. In addition to the repayment, the account which receives the money for the water will allocate a certain amount towards ongoing service and repair work. The two main products under Lifelink are:
• AQpure: It is an ultrafiltration based water purification unit that has a capacity of 2000 LPH and mainly treats surface water with predominantly physical and microbiological contaminants.
• AQTap: It is a smart card based intelligent and intuitive water ATM to dispense water. This is kept at vantage points, where the community
members can come and collect water using the water cards.

Quantitative impact
• Made in India
• AQpure: Around 30 units supplied to different parts of the world. Of this, in India, 15 units in South Thailand and 1 unit in West Bengal are in operation. The other units will be installed shortly.
• AQtap: 110+ units have been supplied to Africa, India and Bangladesh. Also, 95 units installed in Africa, 2 in Bangladesh and 1 in India so far.

Qualitative impact
• Access to clean and safe drinking water for communities in the remote locations
• Enhancement in health for this community because of reduction of water borne diseases
• Savings on medical expenses
• Potential employment opportunities to people to work as operators and technicians; boosting of micro businesses.
• Promotes social entrepreneurs

Case Study by Grundfos Pumps