Boon Raises $5 Million to Develop Water Purifiers and Address India’s Water Crisis

Boon, a water-tech startup focused on improving water quality and access, has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Spanish Roca Group Ventures and from other undisclosed investors. This follows their earlier pre-Series A round of $1.6 million in February 2021, funded by Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund and other backers. The new investment will help Boon refine its AI-based water purifiers, water quality monitoring systems, and expand its market reach, including internationally. Boon also provides water solutions for remote communities and promotes the use of glass water bottle refilling systems to reduce plastic waste.

Water Crisis in India: An Urgent Need for Solutions

India is grappling with one of the most severe water crises in the world. According to recent estimates, more than 600 million people face acute water shortages annually, and nearly 200,000 die due to poor access to safe drinking water. By 2030, the demand for potable water in India is projected to be twice the available supply, putting millions more at risk. The water crisis is exacerbated by pollution, depleting groundwater levels, and an inefficient distribution system. In rural areas, communities often lack the infrastructure for safe and consistent access to drinking water. These challenges make India one of the toughest but most crucial markets for innovative water technologies like those Boon is developing.

Photo by Gyan Shahane on Unsplash

The Challenges of Water Access

The problem goes however beyond mere access; water quality is another pressing issue. Contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates are present in groundwater in several states, leading to long-term health problems such as cancer and skeletal fluorosis. Additionally, poor water infrastructure in many regions means that even where water is available, it often arrives contaminated. Rural India, which comprises 68% of the population, has historically been underserved in terms of reliable water purification solutions. With the urban-rural divide widening, it’s clear that scalable, technology-driven solutions are critical to address these problems.

Assessing Boon’s Technology