Introducing Solinas Integrity

India’s water supply and sewage systems are crucial for both development and public health. While we often talk about diet and exercise when discussing health, access to clean water is just as important. Unfortunately, our water and sanitation systems have not changed much in decades. Even though some technology is used to monitor these systems, issues like leaks, contamination or condition assessment are still often identified using outdated methods.

The rise in global temperatures poses significant threats in the 21st century. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors are critically affected, with infrastructure damage leading to poor sanitation and unhealthy living conditions. Solinas, originally started as a student project at IIT Madras, combats these challenges with advanced robotics and AI solutions for water and sanitation management. Their end-to-end asset management approach, featuring robots like Endobot and software like Swasth, allows proactive monitoring and maintenance, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Currently, up to 50% of drinkable water can be lost due to defects in water supply lines. A major defect here are leaks, that also increase the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, acute diarrheal disease (ADD), and typhoid. Robotic solutions can find leaks faster and more accurately, which could greatly improve public health if used widely.

Solinas is also developing robots to replace manual scavenging, a dangerous job that has caused many deaths. They partner with city corporations and help manual scavengers learn new skills to operate these machines, reducing their direct contact with sewage.

Our investment in Solinas fits our goal of supporting startups focused on climate and health. We are excited to partner with them. Here is a note from Divanshu & Moinak, co-founders of Solinas Integrity.

Note from the Founders

Our Journey

As founders of Solinas, our inspiration stemmed from recurring water scarcity and compromised drinking water quality in various cities where we grew up. In college, we witnessed the harsh realities faced by manual scavengers, who endured severe hardships to maintain cleanliness. Recognizing that engineering could address these issues, we aimed to create solutions to improve society.

In 2018, we envisioned using robots and AI to revolutionize water and sanitation management. Our goal was to reduce water loss and eliminate manual intervention in hazardous conditions. We began developing hardware and software solutions to support city corporations, infrastructure managers, and industries in meeting ESG goals. In one Indian city, our intervention in identifying underground pipe blockages enabled approximately 1,200 families to access clean piped drinking water after a period of 18 months of using tanker-supplied water, significantly lowering their monthly expenses. Our vision extends beyond business expansion as we aim to make a widespread impact across Indian cities and combat climate change.

Challenges in Water and Sanitation Management

Water and sewer pipelines, manholes, stormwater lines, and septic tanks are essential for daily water and wastewater management. However, these underground assets often face unnoticed management challenges. About 70% of treated water gets contaminated during distribution, increasing Non-Revenue Water (NRW). In sanitation, issues like blockages, root penetrations, and cross-functional distribution cause sewer overflows and flooding. Persistent problems arise from a lack of proactive maintenance, disrupting natural and human systems. Asset owners need a proactive approach to mitigate these challenges, achieve ESG goals, and reduce climate impact.

End-to-End Management Solutions

Our solutions enhance asset management through data-driven decisions:

1. Crawler Robot Inspections: Endobot, a series of pipeline crawlers ranging from 90mm to 2000mm, performs conditional monitoring with visual inspection, laser profilers, and IMU-based sensors, providing real-time visuals and data to identify defects within 30 minutes.
2. Digitisation and Condition Assessment Tool: Swasth, our AI-based software, processes data post-inspection to pinpoint defects and abnormalities. It provides detailed reports, grading defect severity for insightful decision-making. Integrated GIS mapping locates and maps assets, offering a comprehensive network overview. The management KPI dashboard provides real-time status updates on rehabilitation work.
3. End-to-End Cleaning Systems: Homosep, our cleaning system, grabs solid wastes, cuts hard sludge, cleans with attached water pressure systems, and transports remains using integrated suction and storage systems. This targeted cleaning approach reduces the need for multiple cost-heavy machines.

Beginnings

We developed India’s first miniature robots for sub-100mm pipelines and implemented end-to-end solutions for manhole and septic tank cleaning, eliminating manual scavenging. Our presence spans over 30 cities, serving more than 15 clients, including global organizations like Volvo, Pfizer, and Zydus, and government bodies such as CMWSSB, Kerala Water Authority, and BMC. Our technology has been incorporated into ministry guidelines, working closely with central ministries (MJS and MoHUA) to define technology adoption. Our impact includes providing clean water to over 100,000 households, supporting 40+ sanitary workers, and saving more than 700,000 litres of water daily. We have received national and international recognition, including accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the Economic Times, YourStory, and Imagine H2O.

What’s next?

In the next five years, we aim to establish India’s first technology unicorn in the WASH sector. Our partnership with Rainmatter offers opportunities to explore new avenues in the WASH sector and expand our sustainable impact worldwide. Together, we aim to reduce water leakage and contamination by 20% in targeted cities (from the current ~55%) and eliminate manual intervention in sewage cleaning. Our journey is marked by local innovation, social impact, and a steadfast commitment to revolutionizing global water and sanitation management. We are setting new standards in the WASH sector through advanced technological solutions and a proactive approach, ensuring a sustainable and healthier future for all.