Q. What are the current water challenges faced by the nation?

Our nation is facing several water challenges at a fundamental level, many lack access to safe drinking water. What is equally concerning is the over extraction of ground water, a critical source for agriculture, industrial and household activity – this affects the drinking water supply as well. Water pollution is an equally pressing concern – the contamination of water due to discharge of effluents into various water bodies makes water unfit for consumption or any other usages. There is inadequate distribution of water across regions due to various factors, resulting in regions that are water-deficit and water-surplus. This can cause water conflict or water wars. 

There is also a lack of adequate water management infrastructure, though the need for a strong and reliable infrastructure is high. Government schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Atal Bhujan Yojana have had tremendous impact. A concerted effort is required by government, private players, NGOs and communities to address all these challenges at multiple levels. 

Q. How is climate change exacerbating challenges in water?

Many natural disasters such as droughts and floods are water-related. The frequency and intensity of such disasters is expected to increase in the years to come due to climate change. Climate change is also linked to a rise in temperature – an attendant consequence of the rise in temperature is the rise in sea levels. This will undoubtedly put many at risk of flooding. Needless to say, this will also lead to increased risk of water-borne diseases. 

Also, climate change will adversely impact the hydrological cycle, this is a concern as rainfall contributes not just towards improving agricultural productivity but also recharging groundwater. This means that the water table will be hit and that is a dangerous consequence especially for communities depending directly on groundwater. The water supply for household and industrial consumption will be adversely affected and there will be more demand for safe water.

Q. How are pumps key part of sustainability? Do they help in circularity?

The water industry is faced with the mission of providing sustainable solutions to problems relating to water. Pumps are a key component of this endeavour; pumps consume 20% of the electricity generated worldwide. However, pumps can play a key role in sustainability due to their energy-efficient design. Energy-efficient pumps can thus reduce the overall carbon footprint of the water industry. Pumps also facilitate the adoption of renewable-energy sources such as solar power and thus enable water treatment plants to reduce reliance on carbon-based energy sources.

Yes, pumps do help in circularity. Pumps can be designed with an extended lifespan and also be reused. Intelligent pumps ensure that there is a controlled and equitable supply of water. Also, there are solutions that integrate intelligent technology with pumping systems in a way that the functioning looks beyond individual components and utilises the entire system efficiently. This can be done through cloud-based interventions that enable system optimisation. It must be emphasised that the key objective of a circular economy is the reduction of waste. 

Q. How do you reduce energy consumption?

Energy efficiency features are incorporated at the product design stage itself to reduce environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. The commitment to energy-efficiency is also evident in Grundfos Hydro MPC, an advanced pressure management solution. The cutting-edge product is equipped with variable-speed technology and smart controls to modify the pump performance according to variations in water demand. The Hydro MPC saves up to one-third energy consumption by optimizing energy usage in water utility applications. These smart pumps allow end-users to fully manage the system operation with a drastically reduced energy footprint. Grundfos pumps are intelligent and can save a significant amount of energy by changing the speed according to the actual demand, compared to conventional fixed speed pumps.

Q. How do you incorporate sustainability in your operations? 

Sustainability is embedded throughout our operations. It is a key part of our framework. Our 14,800sq ft facility in Chennai (accredited LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council) has underground water tanks with a capacity of 350,000L for rainwater harvesting.  All wastewater from the factory is being recycled for landscaping and gardening, making it a Zero Liquid Discharge facility. We have also installed 250Kva solar panels at our Chennai and Ahmedabad facilities. 

As part of our push towards renewables, we have signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to cover 80% of our European power consumption with renewable energy by 2025. We also use a Sustainability Scorecard, integrating these into executive and leadership goals for monthly monitoring of ESG data. Additionally, Grundfos is committed to improving water efficiency and access – we helped provide water to over 7 million people in 2023 through partnerships and innovative solutions. Reducing water withdrawal is another important part of our agenda. These measures exemplify that sustainability is at the heart of our operations.