(Here are memorable excerpts from the meeting of TechTalk #7)

 

"In the various villages that we work at in Pakistan, our specialists travel to the communities. The residents of these settlements are impoverished,  illiterate, sick, and without possessions. Within 10-15 days, our excerpts determine the water quality and use technology to create filters for them.  We educate people and teach them how to do it. I started with 13 filters in the beginning and now have 56. I believe that by now, somebody would  have figured out how to use that technology and would have begun creating more. We are happy if others can take the technology and do it where  ever they want to.”

- Abdul Khurshid Bhatti, CEO, Association for Humanitarian Development, Hyderabad, Sind, Pakistan.  

 

"The entire filtration system is constructed out of ceramic. We've given local craftspeople the chance to make these pots. Water is filtered with the  use of bio sand filtration. This is plenty to support and feed a family. The bio sand filter and pottery approach is being pursued by at least 10-15  different firms, However scalability is a challenge. Abdul Bhatti is doing excellent work. I'm wondering how we can use this as a foundation for  attracting funders and ensuring sustainability. With all of their efforts, for example, if the pot is brittle and breaks down, it will be impossible to  continue. Perhaps another substance might be used to strengthen the body. A small handle with micro holes in the inside core prevents heavy  objects and turbid substances from passing through."

- Chandrasekharan J, Watsan.in  

 

"Technology is designed to be shared, and we want to be able to produce in local pathways with local labour as much as possible to fully localise it.  This is important for the local community. It points to local routes. That's how we'll be able to make it more effective. This is a global solution!"

- David Pong, Singapore  

 

“David's and my products use somewhat different technology. Both are concerned with keeping prices down. And the result is, for the most part,  same. The removal of heavy objects and other items is an extra benefit in things I offer. The goal of the RO membrane is to totally eliminate any  pathogen material. Both may be washed and reused several times.”

- Chandrasekharan J, Chennai  

 

“We need to get people together and create solution providers in different places so that the technology or treatment system can operate in as many  places as it is needed. Our cities are less than 2% of the landmass with a 150,000 square kilometres or so that all of India’s cities claim. The  conventional companies into water filtration stick to cities for it is easier for them to focus on consumers in concentrated areas. You are brave  entrepreneurs who want to address the need of the rural folk who are spread over 70 percent of the country’s geography. So the market is spread  thin. Half of the country's population lives in the 2 percent area, while the other half that you address are in 50 percent of the country’s landmass!  Worser, the typical conventional business companies want to to sell those dreadful RO systems. They want fix-all’s as solutions. Chlorine dosing is  a challenge when you are working in the villages for the dosage varies in every region, and it has to be at the discretion of the water expert or  solution provider. No so in cities. If people like you who are struggling with Point of Use Filtration Systems that reach remote areas, you are doing something that is brave: even a first-year business student will tell you that you are bucking every basic business principle of marketing. You are dealing with challenges and concerns that defy every marketing rule.”

- Hari Haran, WOW Exec Member