Indra Water: Leading Smart, Sustainable Wastewater Solutions

Did you know that only 28% of the total sewage generated in urban India gets treated, while the rest flows into freshwater bodies? This, at a time when freshwater demand is expected to outstrip supply by 40% in 2030, and ‘Day Zero’ is a real and present danger. 

But there’s also hope. 

Indra Water, winner of MIF’s Indian Innovation Icons 2025 award in the business category, is transforming wastewater management with decentralised treatment solutions that enhance water recycling efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Krunal Patel, Co-Founder and COO of Indra Water, answers our questions concerning product, pathways, and purpose. 

Since 2023, Indra Water has also been part of Scale-Up, MIF’s no-equity accelerator for startups addressing some of India’s most urgent challenges.

Tell us about your innovation and what makes it important

Indra’s ElectroX technology enables high-quality water reuse through advanced electrochemical treatment, recovering up to 99% of water. It eliminates tough-to-treat contaminants by generating powerful oxidants in situ, producing water suitable for industrial reuse, utilities, or irrigation.

Unlike conventional methods, ElectroX operates without chemicals for primary treatment, reduces sludge, and functions in a compact, decentralised setup—saving 35% in lifecycle costs and reducing spatial footprint by up to 90%. Its ability to treat diverse effluents at the source and handle shock loads or variations in pollutant concentration makes it ideal for industries seeking sustainable wastewater management. 

What made you want to be a part of this? When did you know your idea was a good one?

I saw India’s wastewater challenges firsthand while visiting factories with my father, while my co-founder Amrit grew up facing daily water scarcity. During our master’s at the University of Washington, we joined an environmental innovation challenge, aiming to treat stormwater using a non-conventional approach. Applying our expertise in automotives and clean energy, we developed a breakthrough solution. The validation from experts and peers reinforced our vision. With confidence in our technology and a passion for entrepreneurship, we founded Indra Water. 

Can you chart Indra Water’s journey and its most significant impacts? 

We started Indra Water in 2018, and today we work with wastewater treatment plants handling up to 8 million liters per day in various stages of deployment and operation. To date, we’ve treated and recycled over 2.5 billion liters of wastewater, positively impacting 500,000 lives. Compared to conventional solutions, we’ve eliminated 8,500+ tons of harmful chemicals, reduced 10,000+ tons of sludge, and potentially offset over 2,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Developing our patented electrochemical technology was no easy feat—cracking electrochemistry at scale required years of R&D and overcoming significant technical challenges. Today, our innovation has been adopted by industry leaders like Aditya Birla Group, Unilever, Tata Steel, and IHCL (Taj Hotels). We’ve grown to a team of 60+ and received recognition from MIF, Forbes, Cleantech Forum, World Economic Forum, and Global Water Intelligence.

What does it feel like to win the Indian Innovation Icons 2025 award? 

It’s been an unforgettable experience and a testament to our team’s dedication and innovation. Our family and team are ecstatic. They celebrated this milestone with immense pride. 

How does winning this award impact the future of your organisation?

Winning this award validates our innovation and reinforces the importance of our mission to build a water-secure future for all. It serves as tremendous motivation for our team. We are grateful for the Indian Innovation Icons awards platform. 

How will you make the most of the benefits that the award provides?

The exposure from MIF will help us build industry connections, unlock opportunities and markets, and increase awareness and credibility of Indra’s solutions. The award platform’s networks and visibility will help us attract top talent, build new partnerships, and accelerate our growth in the wastewater treatment sector.

Who are some mentors that you look to for counsel on business and life?

We’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors like Harsh Mariwala and Ravi Mariwala (MIF), Samir Shah, Helge Daebel, Krishnakumar Natrajan, Ranganath NK (our board members), RiiDL, SINE (incubators), and early investors, who have played a key role in shaping Indra’s growth. 

Beyond them, very recently, watching my little one grow has been a unique mentorship experience, teaching me patience, adaptability, and fresh ways of thinking. Most importantly, my mother’s dedication to teaching life skills with patience and her deep urge to do good instilled in me the values of resilience, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership. 

How important has mentorship been on your journey?

It’s been invaluable. Guidance from Harsh Mariwala and Ravi Mariwala played a pivotal role in shaping our market positioning, refining our financing strategies, and even helping us explore alternative applications for our technology. Their insights on navigating challenges in a growing company, making the right connections, and unlocking new opportunities have been instrumental in our growth. 

In all your conversations with users and stakeholders, what’s one insight that’s never left you?

That it’s always about the people, not just the product—whether it’s building a team, growing a business, or solving real-world problems. The success of Indra Water isn’t just about our technology but about the people driving it and those it impacts. 

What does Indra Water’s roadmap ahead look like?

Our roadmap positions ElectroX as the default choice for primary wastewater treatment across industries. We’re expanding through three key strategies: First, scaling our partnership network by onboarding 20+ large EPC contractors and shifting to an equipment sales model. Second, diversifying into cooling towers and data centers, which face critical water efficiency challenges. Third, expanding geographically into Southeast Asia and the Middle East markets with high demand. Our five-year target is ambitious—INR 500 crore in revenue—driven by these strategic partnerships and market expansions while staying true to our mission of sustainable water solutions.

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Click here to see All Winners of Indian Innovation Icons 2025

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These perspectives were published on InnoWin, MIF’s newsletter, where we regularly feature thought-provoking insights from the country’s most visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and change-makers. Subscribe to receive exclusive innovation wisdom directly in your inbox.