Flowing Forward - Solar Water Purification in Rural India

Challenge: 180 million people in rural India lack access to safe drinking water. Traditional solutions like centralized treatment plants were too expensive and complex for remote villages. Waterborne diseases caused 45% of child deaths under five in our target region. 

Our Approach: Lexington Advisory Group advised AquaTech Solutions on scaling their innovative solar-powered water purification system. The technology was proven, but the business model needed refinement for sustainability. We conducted feasibility studies across 25 villages to understand payment capacity, maintenance capabilities, and community decision-making processes. 

Implementation: We helped AquaTech develop a community ownership model where villages could purchase systems through collective savings over 18 months, followed by low monthly maintenance fees. We designed a local technician training program, ensuring each cluster of five villages had resident repair capability. A mobile app allowed remote monitoring of system performance. 

Results: The program now operates in 847 villages across four states, serving 1.2 million people. Waterborne illness decreased by 67% in participating communities. The program created 340 local jobs for technicians and water entrepreneurs. Village-level savings groups generated $2.8 million in collective funds, demonstrating strong community financial management. 

What Made It Work: Making communities the true owners, not just beneficiaries. When people invest their own money and skills in a solution, they take care of it. Our role was designing systems that made ownership feasible and sustainable.