Bengaluru Entrepreneur’s AI-Driven Water Devices Slash Bills and Improve Conservation
For Bengaluru residents, starting the day without running water is a frustratingly common experience. Dried-up taps, delayed tankers, and poor infrastructure are part of daily life. But one local innovator is changing that reality—one smart device at a time.
Dr. Rohit Nara, a Bengaluru native, has long believed that the city’s chronic water issues are rooted more in mismanagement than scarcity. His personal experiences with water wastage and misbilling inspired him to develop scalable, tech-based solutions.
Last year’s water crisis in Bengaluru, driven by low rainfall, excessive groundwater use, and rapid urban growth, only highlighted the problem. Many residents depend heavily on expensive tanker water. But as Dr. Rohit discovered, hidden issues like underground leaks and uncontrolled motor use were silently draining resources and money.
“Most homes don’t use water level controllers,” he says. “Motors are often left running, causing overflows and huge water losses. And borewells, if not managed well, underperform drastically.”
Faced with such inefficiencies in his own apartment building, Dr. Rohit introduced automation. The result? Borewell output nearly tripled — from 500 to over 1,500 litres daily — slashing tanker reliance and cutting costs.
This breakthrough led to the birth of Nara Technologies in 2015 and the launch of its flagship product line, Agua, in 2016. Agua offers AI-powered smart water management devices that are now making waves across Bengaluru.
Smart Meters, Smarter Habits
At the core of Agua’s system are intelligent water meters equipped with flow sensors and real-time cloud connectivity. Installed at apartment water inlets, these devices monitor usage, detect leaks, and send instant updates to residents via a mobile app.
“People become more conscious of how they use water,” says Dr. Rohit. “And our system can even detect underground storage leaks that typically go unnoticed.”
Another standout feature is Agua’s dynamic billing system, which charges users based on actual consumption and water source — whether it’s municipal, borewell, or tanker. This not only promotes fairness but nudges residents towards sustainable sources like borewell water.
Impact That Matters
Today, over 450 Bengaluru apartments are equipped with Agua smart meters. The numbers are impressive: a 35% drop in overall consumption and a 55% reduction in water bills.
For residents like Ranjan Prakash of Manjunath Residency, the transformation was life-changing. “We used to argue over water bills and tanker charges. With Agua, we now track usage daily, get notified of any irregularities, and enjoy transparent billing,” he says. The Rs 3,000 installation cost paid for itself in less than 18 months.
Dr. Rohit’s devices not only prevent water waste but also change consumption behaviour. Real-time tracking and leak alerts lead to timely maintenance and lower costs.
Shaping Smarter Cities
With Bengaluru as the launchpad, Dr. Rohit envisions a future where every Indian city adopts smart water management. “Water shortages hit everyone. Our goal is to eliminate wastage before it becomes a crisis.”
As Nara Technologies continues to scale, Dr. Rohit remains focused on solving problems that others ignore. “It’s not just about the current challenge,” he reflects. “It’s about staying one step ahead — always innovating, always improving.”
