Safe Water Network, an international NGO has partnered with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to launch water ATMs, providing affordable, 24x7 safe water access in Hyderabad.

The first of the ATMs was inaugurated by Telangana State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy on Thursday at Nalgonda X Roads. A total of 200 ATMs will be set up to reach a targetted 150,000 people. In the first phase 50 water ATMs will be operationalised by next year.

The initiative is supported by USAID under the Urban WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Alliance Partnership and funded by Honeywell India.

Cloud based monitoring These water ATMs use a seven step treatment process to purify water that adheres to national norms.

They are connected via cloud-based technology for real-time monitoring and analyses operational parameters, thereby minimising downtime. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is supplying raw water for these ATMs.

Consumers can collect water that is affordably priced at ₹1 per glass, ₹2 per litre, ₹5 per 10 litres, and ₹10 per 20 litres.

According to Ravi Sewak, Country Director, Safe Water Network: “Empowering local youth to operate and maintain these safe water stations and mobilising strong grassroots community support will ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water.”

Honeywell India, which is engaged in water projects in Telangana for the past couple of years with investments, has already committed funding for 100 safe water stations benefiting more than 300,000 people.

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