Hydroinformatics based StartUps
Hydroinformatics is a branch of informatics that concentrates on the application of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in addressing the increasingly serious problems of the equitable and efficient use of water for many different purposes. Here is a list of the startups which use the knowledge and techniques of hydro informatics to solve real-life problems related to the management of water resources.
Before the list let us introduce the concept of Start-Up :
"A startup is a young company founded by one or more entrepreneurs to develop a unique product or service and bring it to market. By its nature, the typical startup tends to be a shoestring operation, with initial funding from the founders or their friends and families."
There are various water-based Start-Ups that use the concept of hydro informatics,i.e., real-time monitoring(RTM), data analysis, Artificial Intelligence( AI) and Machine Learning(ML), and Internet of Things(IoT) to monitor, manage and conserve water for the maximum benefit of mankind. The most promising start-ups are now delineated below under different types of solutions.
1.Watershed Management
Vassar Labs offers Smart Water Management solutions that use IoT, AI, and ML to provide real-time data and insights from satellites, sensors and for smart decision-making about water consumption. Their product varies from Water Resources Information System to Water Balance and Water and other essential water-based management studies.
2.Water Quality Monitoring
US-based FLUID Lab develops smart water meters. Its specialty is "an easy clamping-on of the meter without a plumber".
Water Lens helps to monitor real-time the quality of "drilling fluids" in oilfield services, chemical, and water recycling companies.
The Lishot Sensor can detect pesticides or bacteria in water with the help of an electric circuit. It can deduce the quality of water and can help a consumer to test the water he/she is drinking. The onsite real-time sensors can help a common man to maintain his health by ensuring the quality of the water he is drinking.
3. Smart Farm Management
GoTron platform of "FarmAgain" autonomously manages the"farm with the farmer only having to involve himself while sowing the crop" as its indigenous technology monitors and also applies water to satisfy the water requirement of crops.
Khyeti provides a "Greenhouse in a Box" product which reduces the space requirement of the greenhouse into 2% of the total land area and thereby conserves both water and energy.
4.Smart Management of Water Treatment Plants
British Elentec facilitates the implementation of electro-coagulation (EC) in secondary wastewater treatment and tertiary polishing, which proves to produce less footprint, and be more safe and stable, compared to traditional chemical reclamation. Its off-the-grid and modular reactors are mostly applied in the following industries: automotive, municipal sewage, aquaculture, mining, brewing, dairy, etc.
WaterFX, a startup from the USA uses solar energy to desalinate seawater and also manages its trade through its virtual platform LQUID.
AguaClara designs "no electricity, gravity-powered municipal-scale water treatment technologies" for developing countries. The capital cost of the plant is half that of a conventional treatment plant.
Island Water Technology provides "modular, low-energy, chemical-free wastewater treatment solutions" and "real-time bio-electrode sensor technologies" to control and monitor the output.
5.Drinking Water Solution
Gurugram-based Swajal produces Water ATMs run by solar energy. It uses "use IoT sensors to remotely monitor the quality of the water and the performance of the machine".
Kerala based Uravu Labs produces water from the air by using solar energy.
Israel based Lishtot has the "test as service" model known as Test Drop Pro and "utilizes differential signalling in an electrical circuit that assists in accurate detecting of various contaminants, heavy metals, chemicals and bacteria at different levels of purity. "
WaterGen 's "heat-exchanger GENius technology" provide clean water at around 2 cents per litre using 250W/hr energy.
6. Water Metering
Simply Smart Technologies allows smart metering of water consumption to hostels, societies, townships, and commercial buildings. The smart water meter help gathers data from multiple water meters and sends it to the cloud server where it analyses the data to provide leak detection services, analysis for daily consumption, and billing.
WeGot is a Chennai-based start-up that manufactures an internet-of-things (IoT) based water management digital platform to capture and share real-time data on daily water usage patterns with clients. The clients can use the data to optimally manage not only water but also electricity and gas consumption in its property and conserve the resources thereby.
All the above startups are using their expertise in hydro informatics to sustain their business which in turn has ensured the livelihood of various people and also the sustainable conservation of the two most important resources Earth has provided, Water and Energy.(JAL and URJA).
Dr.Mrinmoy Majumder
Founding and Honorary Editor
Author of Introduction to MCDM
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