Safe Water Network India (SWN), a non-profit organisation providing affordable and safe off-grid drinking water solutions, has launched several "Water ATMs" in Telangana.
SWN has set up more than 150 safe water stations across Telangana in Karimnagar, Adilabad, Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban, Jayashankar, Mahabubabad, Jagtiyal, Peddapalli, Badradri, Mancherial, Suryapet, Khammam, and Nalgonda districts.
This initiative enables consumers to purchase 20 liters of safe drinking water at any time of the day by swiping their smart cards against the Water ATM in an SWN-facilitated iJal water station.
"The stations are connected via cloud-based technology, enabling online analysis of operational parameters and volumes. Further, many of these water stations run on solar energy and electricity, thereby reducing operating costs," SWN said in a statement.
"The next step is to move towards digital payments, enabling cashless transactions at the water stations. To begin with, we have collaborated with Medak district to conduct awareness workshops on the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app," SWN Country Director Ravi Sewak said.
The drive was supported by SWN and volunteers from Honeywell India, which funds these safe water stations under its corporate social responsibility program.
"Through our partnership with SWN, we are providing safe water access to more than two lakh people in Telangana. Honeywell is deeply invested in the region and our employees are proud to volunteer and continue to add value to the program," said Vikas Chadha, President, Honeywell India.
SWN has established more than 170 iJal safe water stations in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh providing access of safe water to over 600,000 beneficiaries.