Collaboration Digital Paani

Introduction

On October 06, 2025, we had a conversation with Digital Paani which is an innovative digital enterprise that employs Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to automate and optimise wastewater treatment plants (STPs) in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Digital Paani's system combines smart sensors and artificial intelligence (AI)-based analytics to help with regulatory compliance and efficiency improvements by monitoring wastewater treatment plants in real time, as well as utilising predictive maintenance and analytics-based decision-making. Using its SaaS cloud model, operators can remotely control and optimise wastewater treatment processes, resulting in significant reductions in operating costs and downtime. The platform’s key USP lies in its ability to transform wastewater management into a sustainable, resource-efficient system by maximising water recovery and reuse, ultimately contributing to a water-positive and environmentally resilient future.
The discussion was quite engaging, and we gained valuable insights into how the water filter industry operates and how the market performs. They also mentioned that their other USP was the software they had developed and the technology used to modulate that process and the pipeline of their workflow.

1. When your system detects a deviation in performance, such as a drop in removal efficiency, clogging, or biofilm imbalance, what intervention protocol do you follow?
   Digital Paani explained that they follow a structured and data-driven intervention protocol. Whenever the system detects performance deviations, automatic alerts are generated through its monitoring dashboard. Next come the screens for media clogging, uneven flow, and biofilm overgrowth. Backwashing, cleaning, aeration calibration, and microbial reseeding are based on cause or cause-and-effect judgment. In addition to automated and manual checks for their rapid and reliable recovery, continuous data logging can optimise performance and prevent maintenance.
2. How much variation in influent quality can your systems handle, and how do you ensure scalability from pilot to full-scale implementation?
   According to Digital Paani, their systems are built to handle moderate variations in influent characteristics, such as those seen between domestic and semi-industrial wastewater. Adaptive control mechanisms and robust process designs enable tolerance to episodic load changes in parameters like COD, pH, and suspended solids. For highly variable industrial effluents, pre-treatment or tuning of operational parameters is suggested. To ensure scalability, the company relies on pilot data, performance modelling, and modular design principles. With safety factors, retention time, aeration rate, and biomass loading, these parameters are scaled proportionally. Running plants provide real-time feedback to verify full-scale treatment efficiency. How modular are your systems, and what are the requirements for integrating a new module, such as a biofilter or engineered microbial reactor? Digital Paani emphasised that their treatment systems are inherently modular, enabling new components to be integrated easily without major redesigns. New modules, such as biofilters or microbial reactors, can be “plugged in” at the pilot level as long as they meet standard requirements for mechanical connections, electrical compatibility, and data interfacing. This plug-and-play flexibility supports experimental collaborations, allowing research modules to be tested within operational settings.
3. Would Digital Paani be open to collaborating on a pilot project using our biofilter or synthetic biology component, and how might successful results lead to larger-scale adoption or co-branding?
   Digital Paani stated that they are willing to co-develop or host pilot projects that incorporate new biological treatment modules, provided they are safe and compliant with regulations. These pilots could be implemented at selected plants to observe real-time performance. As long as the biofilter or synthetic biology component continually improved treatment efficiency, Digital Paani would consider scaling it up for its customers. They were also open to co-branding and co-marketing jointly validated technologies to promote sustainable, scalable wastewater treatment.
4. We’ve been really inspired by how water solutions like yours are trying to address such a significant need in India. From your experience, what do you think are the most important drivers and also the most formidable barriers for affordable filtration technologies to really take off in the next 5–10 years?
   The company’s response was simple. They did not mention specific figures but stated that the demand for such technologies is expected to rise significantly in the near future, with the market likely to experience substantial growth. They emphasised that this technology is the need of the hour—not only in India but globally. They also highlighted that their services are cost-effective. With the integration of our technology, we could create a breakthrough if we deliver a strong and market-ready prototype. As an example, they shared a case study from Pune, where they successfully treated river water contaminated with metals by deploying an efficient filtration system.
5. Because when we look around, we see so many filter companies already in India and abroad. From your perspective, what really makes a solution stand out in the eyes of users beyond just being cheaper?
   The answer highlighted the importance of identifying a clear USP before entering the market. They suggested ensuring that all components are correctly labelled and that complete documentation and validation reports for the filter are ready. Once everything is in place, the product can be launched confidently. They also mentioned that one of our key USPs is that the technology is both cost-effective and eco-friendly, which they considered a significant advantage.
6. And when it comes to sustainability for the long term, what kind of pricing or business models have you seen actually work on the ground, like one-time sales, subscription models, or maybe community-driven systems? Since we’re also experimenting with our own biofilter model, I’d love to know how you see a student-led team like ours connecting with companies like Digital Paani? Do you think there are ways you could add value, such as by validating, linking to markets, or scaling?
   They responded that it is perfectly fine to have different business models, as both service-based and product-based approaches can work well in this field. The key, they mentioned, lies in effective marketing and identifying the right target audience to capture the market efficiently.

For the second part, they added that if we develop a working prototype and present it to them, they would be willing to provide significant support in marketing and promoting the filter. They appreciated that our technology is both unique and human-friendly—encompassing both affordability and a positive environmental impact.