India, which houses four percent of the world’s water resources and 18 percent of the world’s population, ranks 13th among the 17 worst affected countries in Aqueduct 3.0 Country Rankings 2019 lists. It is the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater — more than China and the US combined — accounting for almost a quarter of the total extracted globally. Between 2000 and 2017 its groundwater depletion increased by as much as 23 percent. Generally, the annual per capita water availability of less than 1,700 cubic meters is considered a water-stressed condition. If this number is below 1,000 cubic meters, it is regarded as a water scarcity condition. Its highly alarming that for India, the utilisable per capita water availability which stood at 938 cubic meters in 2010 is expected to drop to 814 cubic meters by 2025, says National Institute of Hydrology.

About 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate access to safe water and 600 million face high to extreme water stress, as reported by NITI Aayog. The groundwater resources that account for 40 percent of India’s water supply are being depleted at unsustainable rates directing the need to adopt efficient water management measures in both residential and industrial areas. Nearly 163 million of India’s population of 1.3 billion lack access to clean water close to home, according to a report by WaterAid. Given this scenario, it is incumbent upon both the Government and the citizens, to find ways to address and avert the crisis.

Excessive Industrial water consumption

The world’s population is expected to expand by another 40-50% over the next 50 years (Source: World Water Council). Currently, India’s industrial sector is already the second-highest consumer of water, and their current usage in India is about 13 percent of the total freshwater withdrawal in the country. This water demand for industrial uses and energy production is expected to grow at a rate of 4.2 percent per year, rising from 67 billion cubic metres in 1999 to 228 billion cubic metres by 2025. Here, it’s critical to note that industrial water demand is not negligible in India and that it is bound to grow in the coming years. Experts opine that poor water pricing is one of the main reasons for its inefficient use by the industrial sector. It’s essential that for a water-stressed country like India, the efficiency of utilisation in all the industrial uses of water should be optimised and an awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered. The key to the problem lies in the effective management of the water through the deployment of tech advanced smart meters that allow real-time insights to be drawn and acted upon immediately.

Automotive Industry

Efficient water management is becoming an increasingly important issue in sustainable vehicle manufacturing. The automotive industry is one of the major consumers of water, and according to some estimates, over 40,000 gallons of water is used in the process of manufacturing a car. In the automobile assembly lines, water is used throughout a variety of process and production stages where vehicles are treated, washed, rinsed and painted.

The Indian automobile industry is expected to reach $300 Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of 15 percent. It is vital to deploy advanced smart water management technologies to track and reduce process water usage. The technology roadmap for energy reduction in automotive manufacturing should have smart water meter deployment as a key point. These would help manufacturers understand the water usage pattern and make informed decisions to use it more judiciously, thereby reducing the overall energy usage and cost factor.

Since water is used in nearly every stage of the auto manufacturing process in the automotive industry, concerns must be raised around how these plants can reduce global water use significantly. The most conducive solution would be deploying smart water metering solutions due to a number of benefits that they have to offer:

Power bank of Information/data log- Valuable statistical data and information about the water volume and flow, temperature, pressure information is stored and available in the integrated data loggers. These non-invasive temperature readings and optional integrated pressure measurement help network operators to maintain water quality and balance pressure levels in their pipe network.

Lifetime Maintenance-free with long-term battery life- With more than ten years of battery life and in-built static technologies, some static water meters solutions are maintenance-free over its entire operational lifetime.

Improved and better performance- Consumption patterns of commercial and industrial customers often involve fluctuations between low flow rates and continuously high flow rates. These smart meters are designed to be extra sensitive both at high and low flow rates so the alarm can be raised quickly and efficiently in case of pipe burst/ leakage/reverse flow/tampering attempts.

Interestingly, many of the large automobile players have understood the risk of undue water usage. Water management has started to become a top priority in manufacturing plants for them. The OEMs and associated automotive suppliers globally are constantly introducing and expanding methods to conserve water.

Government Initiatives

Governments and regulatory bodies are looking to encourage smarter systems, greener environmental standards and demanding cost targets to restrict the impact on their citizens. Smart water networks, energy reduction targets, a growing population and the effects of climate change are driving new business models and regulatory demands for the Government nowadays. Remote data collection and exchange is growing exponentially and long-established methods and practices are being relooked at – which is offering immense opportunities to utilities to drive operational efficiency. Smart water management, as outlined above, helps the Government, cities & water utilities to improve their infrastructure and enhance the quality of customer service/engagement.

Smart water meter application in industries will help water companies improve customer experience by providing instant, accurate information on everything from billing to queries about service, as and when it’s needed. Providing more data would mean enabling more contact with the customer, fostering a closer relationship.

Road Ahead

Right now, water conservation needs to be a strategic priority for vehicle manufacturers. Considering a majority of areas that operate in are water-stressed, eliminating potable water use to the maximum extent, should be the main motto. Both automobile assembly plants and parts manufacturers need to come forward and adopt water management infrastructure within their processing plants to increase water usage efficiency and minimise discharge volumes. Changing the water footprint of car manufacturers is important.

Water is shaping up to be a serious economic risk in Asia’s third-largest economy. Desertification, land degradation and drought cost India about 2.54 percent of the gross domestic product in 2014-15, according to an India’s environment ministry study. Another global survey of miners in 2018 (CDP), stated that water-related problems such as droughts, increased water stress, and flooding would necessitate a financial impact worth USD 11.8 billion over the next five years. Smart water meters can help India win the water crisis battle faster. The smart water meter market in India is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 14.7 percent during 2019-2025 as per Frost & Sullivan Report.

While the Government have been making significant efforts to make India the best water management nation in the world, the need to work towards a digital, smart and resilient water economy to enhance the water management system– is vital! (MT)

NB: Amit Vaidya is Director, India – Metrology Business, Sensus; views expressed are personal

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Asia’s largest integrated platform for traffic management, road construction and smart mobility solutions officially opened its doors today at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The combined Traffic Infratech Expo, Road Infratech Expo and Parking Infratech Expo are showcasing over 300 brands under the theme ‘Enabling Responsible Infrastructure and Mobility.’

The 2025 edition emphasises innovation, sustainability and collaboration, bringing together government officials, industry leaders and technology providers to address India’s rapidly evolving infrastructure needs.

Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, said, “At Messe Frankfurt India, our commitment to create platforms that don’t just showcase technologies but actively drive industry conversations and policy alignment. Traffic Infratech Expo has evolved into an ecosystem where government, industry leaders and innovators converge to shape the future of mobility. This year’s edition, with its scale and focus on responsible infrastructure, reflects India’s ambition to lead in safe, sustainable and technology-driven transport solutions.”

A key focus of the expo is ‘Transforming Transportation for the Future,’ with several high-level discussions planned on supporting home-grown technology solutions.

The event will host a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) to accelerate indigenous technology development within the automotive sector.

Jayprakash Nair, Managing Director, Virtual Info System (VIS Group), said, “Over the years, Traffic Infratech Expo has become a catalyst for change in India’s transport and mobility landscape. Together with Messe Frankfurt India, we have built a platform that drives industry and government collaboration. Technology providers, product manufacturers, government associations, infrastructure, and policymakers are converging at the expo to discuss the real challenges and solutions needed. The 2025 edition is particularly significant as it not only introduces next-gen product categories but also brings multiple agencies and stakeholders to the table, reinforcing the show’s role as a driver of innovation and progress.”

The expo is supported by several key government bodies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and will feature the Smart Mobility Conference to enable in-depth policy discussions. The two-day event is set to host over 20 new product launches and facilitate B2B and B2G networking.

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Cognizant hosted Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Lance Stroll and driver ambassador Pedro de la Rosa at its GAR campus in Hyderabad. The visit was part of 'Celebrating Cognizant', a series of sporting and cultural activities for company associates.

Lance and Pedro met with Cognizant’s leadership team and hundreds of associates, discussing how Cognizant’s digital expertise supports the team, especially ahead of the 2026 regulations.

Lance Stroll, said, "It was a pleasure to visit the Cognizant offices in Hyderabad and meet so many of the team. Hearing first-hand about Cognizant’s technology and services was valuable and we felt incredibly welcomed by everyone we met.”

Rajesh Varrier, President – Global Operations and Chairman & Managing Director, Cognizant India, said, “Today’s celebration with Lance is a proud moment for our associates and a powerful reminder of how far we have come in shaping the future of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team through innovation. I am inspired by what we have achieved together and optimistic about the promise this partnership holds for the future.”

A fireside chat with Lance, Pedro, and Rajesh underscored the role of technology in F1 and the Cognizant partnership. The drivers engaged with associates in a Q&A session.

In addition to the visit, Cognizant hosted a virtual hackathon for nine teams from three organisations supported by its Outreach programme. Participants developed low-code or code-based solutions to make the team’s Ai.lonso avatar into an engaging digital companion for fans. The top two teams won cash prizes and met Lance and Pedro.

Cognizant began its partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2021. The technology company acts as the team’s digital transformation partner, improving IT infrastructure and daily operations.

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Ola Electric, one of India’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers, has announced that it became the first two-wheeler EV maker to get government certification for its in-house developed rare-earth-free ferrite motor.

The company claims that the ferrite motor eliminates its need to import rare-earth motors with permanent magnets.

The certification has been granted by Global Automotive Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, after undergoing rigorous performance verification and mandatory motor power tests as per AIS 041 that is notified by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India.

As per the company, the in-house developed ferrite motor’s performance matched that of the motors with rare-earth permanent magnet motors in terms of net power for 7kW and 11 kW variants.

Ola Electric claimed that the ferrite motor delivers efficiency, performance and durability on par with rare-earth permanent magnet motors, while dramatically lowering costs and de-risking supply chain fluctuations. The company first introduced its ferrite motor at its annual ‘Sankalp 2025’ event in August this year.

With this, Ola Electric is set to integrate the ferrite motor across its product lineup, further enhancing performance, affordability and sustainability.

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BASF and its partners are set to present two technologies at K 2025 that allow for the recycling of polyamides from end-of-life vehicles. While metal recovery from decommissioned vehicles has been standard for decades, about 200 kilograms of plastic per vehicle are often incinerated. The new technologies aim to change this, especially with upcoming requirements from the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELVR). Pilot projects show how automotive waste can be used as material and returned to a closed cycle for the car industry.

BASF developed a chemical recycling process that recycles used and contaminated plastic parts – including used oil pans from ZF Group vehicles. The core of the process is depolymerisation, where the long polyamide chains break down into their original monomers. The caprolactam monomer obtained from PA6 is then purified. This removes impurities that would have remained with mechanical recycling and potentially reduced the material's quality and safety.

The material is then repolymerised into high-quality polyamide, which is processed into a compound suitable for demanding car industry components, closing the automotive-to-automotive loop.

"What used to be considered non-recyclable is now the starting point for high-quality new products," said Martin Scheuble, Team Leader Circularity Engineering Plastics at BASF.

ZF Group processed the recycled material into a chassis component for Mercedes-Benz. Tests show that depolymerisation allows for polyamide compounds that can be used without compromising performance or other chemical and physical properties.

"This project highlights the potential of recycled plastic - even for technically demanding applications - and underlines ZF's innovative strength in establishing sustainable material cycles," said Dr. Michael Lohrmann, Director Materials Technology at ZF.

Solvent-based recycling of shredder residue

A second pilot project focuses on recycling automotive shredder residue (ASR) – a mixture of materials left after the removal of mostly metals and glass. Close cooperation with a recycling company, using new sorting and processing technology, has allowed the polyamides to be extracted from this mixture in a largely pure form.

This polyamide fraction was the starting material for a solvent-based recycling process. In this process, the polymer chain is selectively dissolved with a solvent, purified and then reprocessed into PA6 compounds.

Poppelmann manufactured and tested a chain guide rail in series production at Mercedes-Benz using this technology.

"The project impressively demonstrates that solvent-based recycling is a practical alternative for plastics that are difficult to recycle mechanically. It makes an important contribution to the holistic circular economy - from the car back into the car," emphasised Steffen Meyer, Team Leader Production Technology at Poppelmann.

Life cycle analyses (LCA) confirm that both the solvent-based and depolymerisation technologies offer substantial CO2 emission savings compared to both conventional polyamide production and traditional plastic recycling methods like thermal recovery.

BASF offers a range of recycling solutions, stating that targets are achieved only if technologies are used in a complementary manner, depending on the type and availability of waste.

Jana Kragenbring-Noor, Head of Sustainability & Environmental Protection at Mercedes-Benz, explained, "Mercedes-Benz is committed to the use of secondary raw materials in its vehicles today and in the future as part of resource conservation and circularity. To continuously increase the availability of such sought-after secondary materials, the expansion of existing and new recycling technologies is essential."

"We are continuously improving the efficiency of physical methods such as mechanical and solvent-based recycling. In addition, we are convinced that complementary technologies such as chemical recycling, which includes depolymerization, pyrolysis and gasification, are necessary to further promote the circular economy and reduce the plastic waste that still ends up in landfills or is incinerated today, as well as the potential to obtain high-quality recycled plastics," explained, Dr. Martin Jung, President of BASF Performance Materials.

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