Microsoft & FluxGen: Using AI to Conserve Water in India

It is estimated that 70% of India’s water supply is polluted and 600 million people in the country are facing water stress.

Bengaluru, India’s third-largest city, is attempting to tackle the negative effects of urbanisation that are being accelerated by climate change.

Based in Bengaluru (previously Bangalore), technology company FluxGen is helping people to make more efficient use of the water that is available. 

With support from Microsoft, FluxGen’s Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-based solutions are reducing water consumption.

India’s water crisis

Bengaluru, known as the “city of a thousand lakes”, was once renowned for its man-made lakes, irrigation wells and canals that provided a year-round water supply. 

built centuries ago, These innovative water storage systems effectively stored and distributed rainwater – sustaining domestic and agricultural needs in the southern Indian city. 

In recent years, rapid urbanisation and frequent droughts have led to the disappearance of more than 800 of Bengaluru’s lakes, contributing to a growing water crisis. 

Groundwater is being depleted at nearly twice the rate it can naturally replenish, leaving taps dry and wells empty.

Home to 14 million people, Bengaluru’s residents and businesses are forced to rely on expensive private water tankers for their daily water needs. 

Climate experts warn that the situation will likely worsen as climate change continues to affect rainfall patterns, leading to more severe and frequent droughts in the region. 

Meet FluxGen

Bengaluru-based FluxGen, a provider of AI and IoT-powered water management solutions, is working to reverse the national water crisis. 

Ganesh Shankar grew up in Bengaluru and witnessed firsthand the city's deteriorating water situation, inspiring him to foundFluxGen.

FluxGen is dedicated to addressing the water crisis through innovative water management and conservation solutions, with open arms to AI help.

“I still remember my early childhood when we had a well at home that dried out by the time I started going to school,” shared Ganesh Shankar, Founder of FluxGen. 

“The water situation has been very bad in the city of Bengaluru, but we believe that it can be reversed if we work on water efficiency.” 

FluxGen’s solutions are being used to solve water-related issues around the world, including in Ganesh’s hometown, Bengaluru. 

Global tech giant Microsoft is partnering with FluxGen to help deploy its water management solutions at two charitable hospitals.

How is Microsoft supporting Bengaluru hospitals?

With funding from Microsoft, FluxGen is implementing its water management solutions at two hospitals in Bengaluru.

Located in the heart of the city, these two hospitals primarily serve underprivileged communities and face significant water challenges. 

The collaboration with Microsoft, aims to increase the hospital's water efficiency and reduce its reliance on freshwater – supporting Microsoft’s goal to become water positive by 2030. 

FluxGen’s solution works by deploying a combination of IoT sensors and AI technology to monitor and manage water resources effectively. 

The sensors collect real-time data on water usage and conditions, including water flow, level and quality. 

The collected data is sent to the cloud, where it is analysed using Microsoft Azure cloud storage and data analysis capabilities. 

One of the key components of FluxGen’s solution is Aqua GPT, a generative AI-based tool powered by Microsoft technology. 

Aqua GPT provides prescriptive alerts and actionable insights to help identify inefficiencies in the water network including leaks, wastage and excessive usage. 

“While there’s always a question about how AI uses a lot of water, we are using AI to actually solve for water,” explains Ganesh.   

“It’s a use case that makes so much sense in a world where there is water shortage.

“Microsoft has introduced us to other people working on water issues and now we’re working with them. So, our partnership has enabled more partnerships, leading to better outcomes. Our work together is attracting considerable attention from officials interested in replicating the model.” 

FluxGen is aiming to reduce water consumption by 50% across the two facilities, with results so far proving promising.

At St. Martha’s Hospital, water use decreased by more than 10% following the installation of flow meters, level sensors, piezometers and rain gauges – monitoring water flow and consumption patterns. 

The next phase of the project at St. Martha’s Hospital includes implementing advanced water-saving technologies such as aerators, rainwater harvesting systems and using recycled water to further reduce consumption. 

"It’s amazing how specifically and accurately FluxGen can show us water data for each department or point,” says Gracie Thomas, Sister Superior at St. Martha’s Hospital. 

Supporting FluxGen’s mission 

FluxGen’s decision to partner with Microsoft was influenced by Microsoft’s goal to become water positive by 2030.

FluxGen is also partnering with Microsoft Research, a Microsoft team focused on advancing science and technology to benefit humanity. 

This additional collaboration enables FluxGen to deploy advanced technologies like verified telemetry, which significantly enhanced its ability to monitor and manage water resources effectively. 

Having already implemented solutions in regions the Middle East and Africa, the company is now setting its sights on expanding to Europe and the United States. 

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