Delivering Safe Drinking Water to Communities in Bengaluru Rural

Introduction 

Access to safe drinking water is fundamental to public health and community wellbeing. In alignment with the development priorities outlined by Dr C N Manjunath, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Bengaluru Rural), People4People is implementing 10 community Drinking Water ATMs across selected villages within his constituency.

These Water ATMs will dispense clean, affordable, and reliable drinking water at ₹5 for 20 litres, using a simple coin-based system. The initiative ensures dignity, accessibility, and long-term sustainability for rural households. The project is supported by the vision and leadership of Dr Sunita Maheshwari and Dr Arjun Kalyanpur, Co-founders of People4People.

Implementation is scheduled from December 2025 to March 2026, using a combination of permanent civil-constructed kiosks and portable container-based ATM units.

Water ATM – Enquiry Form

If you would like to support the installation of new Water ATM units in Karnataka or elsewhere in India, or visit existing units to learn from the model, please share your details below. Our team will get in touch with you shortly.

Project Objectives

To provide safe, purified drinking water accessible to all households.

To deploy a financially sustainable community-managed water system.

To strengthen public health outcomes through reliable drinking water access.

To build a scalable and replicable model for rural drinking water solutions.

Implementation Model

People4People will install 10 Water ATMs across two infrastructure formats:

Model A :
Civil-Constructed Water ATM Kiosk (5 sites)

  • Traditional civil foundation and shed structure
  • RO plant room, raw and treated water tanks
  • Coin-based vending system

Model B :
Portable Container Water ATM (5 sites)

  • Pre-fabricated insulated cabins with full electrical and plumbing fitment
  • Integrated RO plant and dispensing panel
  • Faster deployment and modular design
  • Coin-based vending system

Water Source and Raw Water Supply

Each Water ATM will draw raw water from:

  • the government-supplied piped water network where available, or
  • a community borewell, identified and approved by the Gram Panchayat.

Raw water will be treated using a 1000 LPH RO + UV purification system before dispensing.

RO Reject Water Management and Reuse

The RO reject water will be:

  • allowed to percolate naturally into the ground, contributing to groundwater recharge, and
  • utilised by the local community for non-potable purposes, including cleaning, washing, gardening, and other approved uses.

This approach ensures environmentally responsible use of water resources.

Village Coverage & Estimated Impact

(Using 2 cans per household per day = 40 litres/day)

Sl. No. Village / Location Gram Panchayat / Town Households Estimated Daily Demand (litres)
1 Y.T. Halli Village Y.T. Halli GP (S.C.) 239 9,560
2 Sheera Gudde Village Dashavara GP 450 18,000
3 A.V. Halli Village Sulleri GP 390 15,600
4 Ramanathapura Village Makali GP 100 4,000
5 Santhemogenahalli Doddi Kudluru GP 350 14,000
6 Iggaluru (Near Konada Marammana Community Centre) Iggaluru GP 600 24,000
7 S.C. Colony, Kudluru Village Kudluru GP 400 16,000
8 S.C. Colony, Rampura Village Rampura GP 346 13,840
9 Ward No. 21 Channapatna Town 222 8,880
10 Ward No. 31 Channapatna Town 1,000 40,000

Total Estimated Daily Demand: 163,880 litres/day

Total Households: 4,097 

Sustainability Framework

After commissioning, People4People, in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat and the Water ATM vendor, will:

Manage daily operations via a designated local operator

Utilise revenue from water sales to fund CMC, electricity costs, and operator wages

Oversee routine maintenance and ensure continuous functionality

Monitor water quality and consumption patterns to ensure the system remains safe and efficient.

This creates a self-sustaining, community-owned model that continues to deliver value long after installation.

Project Timeline (Dec 2025 – Mar 2026)

Month Activities
December 2025 Site finalisation, civil groundwork, fabrication of container cabins, raw water arrangement.
January 2026 Delivery of cabins, installation of tanks and RO systems, electrical and plumbing works.
February 2026 Commissioning of purification units, water testing, operator training, system trials.
March 2026 Community orientation, and official launch of the Water ATMs.

Stories from the Villages

This project represents a shared journey with the communities we serve. Over the coming months, this section will be updated with:

Know more

With each Water ATM installed, People4People moves closer to ensuring that every family in these villages has dependable access to safe drinking water. This initiative strengthens public health, reduces household burdens, and empowers rural communities to manage essential water resources sustainably.

Together, we are building healthier villages — one Water ATM at a time.