A Patent for Every Drop: Jharkhand’s Water Tech Breakthrough

In the arsenic-prone heartlands of rural Jharkhand, innovation now flows through copper pipes and bamboo drains.

A local start-up, TAP@APP, has transformed contaminated groundwater into a source of empowerment—using AI, IoT, and an eco-barter model unlike anything seen before. This smart water system, designed by Saket Kumar and his team from IIT Kharagpur, not only purifies water but also predicts contamination before it strikes.

The Tech Behind TAP@APP

TAP@APP’s core is a fusion of proprietary imaging and titration sensors with AI-powered analytics. It delivers real-time diagnostics and predictive alerts to smartphones and local hubs, detecting threats like arsenic and bacteria long before they become health crises.

“We envisioned a solution that is not just about detection but about prevention,” explains Saket Kumar, CEO of VAS Bros Enterprises Pvt Ltd (VBEPL). “Our focus has been on scalability, affordability, and accessibility for those who need it most.”

After six years of rigorous testing and refinement, the project has been awarded a national patent—a milestone celebrating innovation that truly matters.

Eco-Barter for Water: RainbowCredits

Innovation here isn’t just technological. It’s social.

TAP@APP is embedded within an eco-barter model, run through the WaterBANK Foundation Trust, the social arm of VBEPL. Villagers earn “RainbowCredits” by taking part in sustainability efforts like waste segregation, bamboo drainage construction, or bamboo crafting.

These credits are redeemable for up to 1,000 liters of purified water or sustainable goods, creating a circular economyrooted in environmental stewardship.

Piloting the Change in Pakri

The project’s first pilot was launched in Pakri village, Bihar’s Dumaria panchayat, an area long affected by arsenic contamination. TAP@APP’s water purification technology, Oxidation Arsenic System (OAS), uses treated laterite, a natural mineral, to filter toxins.

The results have been transformative. Clean water is now not only accessible, it’s earned through dignity and effort.

Scaling Up: Jharkhand to the World

Production of OAS units is scaling at Lohardagga Industrial Area, with land support from the Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA). VBEPL is partnering with:

• Pan IIT USA
• WIN Foundation
• WHEELS Global Foundation
• HUSK Power Systems

…to replicate the model in other parts of India and beyond.

Policy Recognition & National Backing

Support has poured in from the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region, National Bamboo Mission, and the National Skill Development Corporation. Young villagers, especially women, are being trained in water testing, bamboo craftsmanship, and system maintenance.

Both NITI Aayog and the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor have applauded the initiative for aligning with India’s SDGs and empowering Panchayati Raj institutions.

At the 2023 UN Water Conference in New York, TAP@APP was spotlighted as a global model for sustainable water management.

Villager Ownership: From Beneficiaries to Custodians

More than clean water, the real story is ownership. Villagers are no longer passive recipients. They’re active stewards of their water and environment.

“This isn’t just water purification—it’s purification of opportunity, dignity, and ecology,” says Mr. Kumar.

As climate change worsens water scarcity and infrastructure struggles to keep up, TAP@APP offers a model built not on top-down aid, but bottom-up resilience.

Drop by drop, task by task, the people of Jharkhand are scripting a water revolution.solutions from above but fosters community-driven innovation and cooperation, drop by drop, task by task.