Vikram is an experienced leading water expert providing effective solutions on water scarcity, water availability and water purification. His constant efforts, focus and innovation within the work environment has earned his company the recognition of India's Best Companies to Work for 2023 by Great Place to Work in India.

India with a population of about 139 crores is facing humongous problems and one of the major challenges among them is ‘water scarcity’. Thus, water industry is witnessing a complex set of challenges that needs to be addressed effectively to stay competitive within the industry. The reasons behind this challenge is overpopulation, rapid urbanization, overexploitation of groundwater, poor water management, frequent climatic changes, and rising people’s water demands are some of the vital factors affecting the water industry today. Even according to the 2020 UN World Water Development Report, global water usage has increased by a factor of six over the past 100 years and steadily growing at a rate of about 1 percent per year.

Additionally, the effective changes like economic development and changing consumption pattern is creating difficult situations in the industry, as it is very tough to hold the gear tightly in the cut-throat competition. In order to face the challenges with freshwater availability as well as depletion of groundwater resources, it is very important to focus on new innovative ideas for conserving the available water resources.

Today, across the world, the young generation, the society across small towns to large towns all is mainstreaming the integration of sustainable urban water management practices to eradicate water security. This is the time to make investments on promising technological solutions that can help in solving many urban water problems.

Significant Techniques that are Trending
To tackle water scarcity, implementing effective water management strategies and early warning systems can reduce the impact of water related hazards. Leveraging advanced water leakages/losses detection, real-time water flow & water quality monitoring, advanced wastewater treatments fit for recycle/reuse and resources recovery, adopting exemplified smart metering, and use of IoT.

Another important trend is promoting green-blue infrastructure and improving urban planning helps in absorbing excess water during floods and store water during droughts. Efficient irrigational techniques such as farm irrigation accounting to about 70 percent of the usage of global freshwater, there are a lot of opportunities for farm water conservation. Irrigational systems that accurately measure their usage with water flow meters minimize overwatering which results in a significant amount of water wastage.

Role of Government
Government initiatives and streamlined green financing mechanisms are significantly helping the water sector to improve its service delivery. For example, in India, cities like Pune Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and other cities are perfect examples of such Government initiatives. Reforming institutional and regulatory frameworks is crucial for protecting and revitalizing water ecosystems. This helps in establishing clear policies, guidelines and standards for water management, promoting sustainable practices, and preserving aquatic habitats, ensuring equitable and safe access to water which requires accountability in service delivery, including fair distribution.

Service providers are responsible for meeting the needs of all the consumers or customers in a sustainable. Government is developing water recycling programs that helps in producing water which is clean enough even for drinking purposes. Furthermore, water resources are becoming more stressed due to water scarcity, therefore, fines are being implemented for overuse or wastage of water.

Incorporation of Science & Technology
Technological & Scientific advancements are marching forward for promoting water conservation, by developing efficient and effective irrigational systems like drip irrigation and precision farming techniques, water management software and modelling tools like IOT based water monitoring that assist in optimizing water usage, reducing wastage, and promoting sustainable water practices. In addition, technology is thoroughly empowering policymakers and communities with valuable tools and insights to effectively address water-related challenges and ensure the sustainable management of this vital resource.

Technology is enabling real-time collection of data on water quantity, quality, and usage through remote sensing, IoT devices and sensor networks. This data also helps to calculate water availability, identify trends of water consumption, and take important decisions for efficient water management.

Moreover, advanced technologies, such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, smart meters and automation are enabling efficient monitoring and control of water supply networks. These technologies are helping in reducing leaks, optimizing water distribution, and ensuring an equitable access to water resources. Additionally, technologies such as advanced filtration systems, membrane technologies and disinfection processes (i.e., UV and ozone treatment) also helps in treating and purifying water from various sources, making it safe for consumption and reducing the risk of waterborne diseases.

Advanced Water Purification Techniques
Global water treatment product manufacturers or water solution-providing companies are exploring various state-of-the-art water purification and filtration technologies to better serve their customers. The four latest water purification technologies that are likely to serve as alternatives to the existing water purification processes are-

1. Nanotechnology: This involves several approaches and processes of applying materials on the atomic or molecular scale. Nanotech-based water purification processes are modular, highly efficient, and cost-effective, when compared to the conventional water purification methods. The major applications of nanotechnology in water treatment processes include silver, copper and zero-valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles, nano-structured photocatalysts, nano-membranes, and nano-adsorbents. The large surface-to-volume ratio of nanoparticles enhances the adsorption of chemical and biological particles, while enabling the separation of contaminants at very low concentrations.

Technology is thoroughly empowering policymakers and communities with valuable tools and insights to effectively address water-related challenges and ensure the sustainable management.

The nano-adsorbents feature specific physical and chemical properties for the removal of metallic pollutants from water. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the major nanomaterials used in water purification. The CNT-based filtration systems can remove organic, inorganic, and biological compounds from water. Hence, global companies, such as Alfa Laval, Applied Membranes, DowDuPont, GEA Group, Inopor and Koch Membrane Systems are engaged in the development of membranes that are made of nanomaterials to eliminate pollutants during the water treatment process.

Acoustic Nanotube Technology: The acoustic nanotube technology was invented by scientists at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center. It employs acoustics in place of pressure to direct water through small-diameter carbon nanotubes. This technology is based on an acoustically driven molecular screen integrated with carbon nanotubes that allow the passage of water molecules, while blocking any larger molecules and contaminants. It consumes less power than traditional filtration systems and drives water away from contaminants instead of removing pollutants from water. The process also eliminates the need for flushing the filter system.

The primary applications of acoustic nanotube technology are in municipal water plants, medical facilities, laboratories, distilleries, desalination plants, industrial facilities, Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTPs) and the consumer segment. This innovation is scalable with the integration of multiple filters, according to the filtration needs of its diverse users. Also, Nasa’s acoustic nanotube technology is available for firms to license and evolve into a full-fledged commercial water purification-providing company.

Photocatalytic Water Purification Technology: Water treatment using photocatalysis has gained prominence in the recent years due to its efficiency in treating contaminated water. This technology utilises photocatalysts and ultraviolet (UV) rays to remove the impurities and toxic substances from water. The Panasonic developed this technology that binds the photocatalyst (titanium dioxide) to a commercial adsorbent and a catalyst called zeolite to ensure the effective separation and recovery of photocatalysts from water for reuse.

Titanium dioxide has the property of mineralising a range of organic compounds into safe end products. This catalyst uses UV radiations, either from sunlight or artificial light to separate the substances. Photocatalysis can break down a range of organic materials, oestrogens, pesticides, dyes, crude oil and microbes, such as viruses and chlorine-resistant pathogens, as well as inorganic compounds such as nitrous oxides or ‘laughing gas’. Photocatalytic water treatment systems are best suited for use in WTPs where the polluted industrial wastewater with high loads of organic substances or metals can be effectively treated.

Automatic Variable Filtration (AVF) Technology: This involves a simple process where the upward flow of influent is cleaned by the downward flow of filter media. It helps in eliminating the need for any additional process or freshwater for filter media cleaning. The AVF method involves continuous cleaning by descending bed filters embedded in a variable array. The two-stage configuration of the system integrates two sets of media filters that can function either in a serial or parallel mode.

The process delivers water with quality equivalent to that of micro-filtration technology and at a fraction of the cost of low-pressure membranes. It features no moving parts and consumes less power, as well as reduced operating and maintenance costs. The AVF systems are best suited for municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, wastewater recycling and reuse, pre-filtration for membrane processes and desalination applications.

Lastly, reduce population or avoid population explosion by implementing modern family planning techniques, as presently India records a huge population of 139 crores which is indeed alarming and would certainly result in water crisis in the future. As a result, switch to advanced and sustainable solutions before it is too late. Start metering and measuring water, assuring the condition of equipment to avoid water leakage, practice modern & scientific water conservation methods and techniques. Reuse and recycle water using of the latest modern technologies using WTPs and STPs.

Eliminate single-pass cooling. Use water-smart landscaping and irrigation or latest irrigational techniques. Reduce steam sterilizer tempering water use. Reuse laboratory culture water. Control reverse osmosis system operation. Dig underground wells for groundwater but avoid depletion of groundwater resources. As a whole, make sure that blue world is safe and secure to save humans from droughts, waterborne diseases, and more chronic issues.