§1What this business is
The unit assembles multi-stage gravity filters (carbon, ceramic, silver), bio-sand filters, rainwater filter kits and solar-powered UV/UF units that treat 20–100 litres an hour. It installs them for households, SHGs, anganwadis, schools, health centres, temples and tourist camps, chosen to suit local water tests and sunlight, then earns again from filter replacement, annual maintenance contracts, water testing and awareness camps paid by NGOs or CSR.
Capacity: The cost basis is 200–300 systems a year; the revenue plan assumes 1,000 gravity purifiers at ₹1,500 and 50 solar-UV units at ₹15,000 a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A plumber, electrician or science graduate who can work with ASHA workers, teachers and panchayats.
Who it is not for
Someone looking for a showroom business — sales happen through village demonstrations.
Advantages
- Thousands of hill villages still drink from springs and handpumps
- Filter changes and maintenance contracts bring repeat income
- Panchayats, CSR and Jal Jeevan Mission partners can co-fund systems
- Small investment and a lean team
Drawbacks
- Rural buyers often do not see the need to treat water
- Price is a barrier for poor households
- Servicing remote villages is slow and costly
- Mass advertising does not work; demos are needed
Skills you need
- Purifier assembly and plumbing
- Solar wiring and testing
- Water testing (TDS)
- Community awareness and demos
Why difficulty 2/5: Low capital and simple assembly; the work is in winning village trust.
§3Market
Who buys
- Households and SHGs
- Schools, temples and primary health centres
- Panchayats, NGOs and CSR programmes
- Tourist camps and forest chowkis
How it sells
- Village demonstrations and camps
- Endorsement by teachers and ASHA workers
- Bulk orders through panchayats and CSR
Good to know
- Profile prices: gravity purifier ₹1,500, solar-UV unit ₹15,000, AMC ₹300 a year, filter replacement ₹100, awareness camp ₹3,000.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Drill machine | 1 | ₹6,000–10,000 |
| Multimeter and TDS meter | 1 | ₹3,000–5,000 |
| Pipe cutter and wrenches | 1 | ₹2,000–3,500 |
| Solar module tester | 1 | ₹7,000–10,000 |
| Filter assembly toolkit (sealant, washers, O-rings) | 1 | ₹5,000–6,000 |
| Labelling and stamp kit | 1 | ₹1,500–3,000 |
| Water storage tank for testing (50–100 litres) | 1 | ₹4,000–6,000 |
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Off-Grid Water Purifier Installation Unit
- Gravity filter housings100–200 units a month; food-grade plastic or steel
- Filter cartridges (activated carbon, sediment, ceramic candles)150–300 units a month
- Solar UV/UF modules with panels and batteries10–20 units a month
- Storage tanks20–50 litres a unit, HDPE or steel
- Pipes, fittings and taps
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Off-Grid Water Purifier Installation Unit
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence for the assembly shed
- Vendor registration with panchayats, DRDA or JJM units for institutional orders
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
The profile plans ₹2–3 L own money, a ₹5–6 L bank or MUDRA loan and ₹3–4 L DUY/PMEGP subsidy (up to 35%). CGTMSE backs a collateral-free loan.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Equipment and tools ₹2–2.50 L + initial inventory ₹2.50–3 L + infrastructure and rent ₹1–1.50 L + marketing ₹0.50–0.80 L + first-year working capital ₹3–4 L = ₹10–12 L.
Working capital: First-year working capital ₹3–4 L for salaries, transport and installation material.
Year not printed on the DUY profile — check current prices before you buy equipment.
§8Export potential
A local service; there is no goods export in this business.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Systems left unused after installation
- Spare filters not reaching remote sites
- Dependence on CSR or panchayat budgets
- Poor water quality beyond what the filter can treat
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working off-grid water purifier installation unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Off-Grid Water Purifier Installation?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.