Swiss start-ups eye Bengaluru STPs for global-grade wastewater upgrade

BWSSB plans pilot projects with Swiss start-ups to test advanced wastewater treatment technologies at Bengaluru’s sewage treatment plants, aiming for sustainable and scalable solutions.

Bengaluru’s wastewater management infrastructure could soon receive a significant technological boost, with Swiss start-ups expressing interest in testing advanced treatment solutions at the city’s sewage treatment plants (STPs).

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has initiated discussions to bring in innovative and sustainable technologies as part of its broader effort to modernise water and wastewater management. Several Swiss start-ups have shown keen interest in deploying their solutions within BWSSB’s existing infrastructure on a pilot basis.

BWSSB Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar confirmed the development, stating that the interest from Swiss start-ups followed a high-level video conference held on Monday with Angela Honegger, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex India. The interaction explored possibilities for collaboration between BWSSB and Swiss innovation ecosystems.

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To facilitate such partnerships, BWSSB has introduced a new scheme that allows start-ups to implement innovative technologies in water supply and wastewater management through pilot projects. The initiative is designed to give start-ups an opportunity to test their proof-of-concept models under real-world operating conditions.

BWSSB officials said these pilot projects would serve a dual purpose. While start-ups can refine and validate their technologies, the utility can closely assess their performance, efficiency, feasibility and scalability before considering large-scale adoption across the city.

Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, Mr. Manohar noted that Switzerland is globally recognised for its advanced wastewater management systems. He said the board welcomes Swiss universities and start-ups willing to invest technology and expertise in Bengaluru’s sewage treatment plants.

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“This partnership will help ensure high-quality treated water while also exposing our engineers to global-standard technologies,” he said, adding that such knowledge exchange would strengthen BWSSB’s technical capacity in the long run.

The proposed pilots mark a step towards integrating global best practices into Bengaluru’s urban water management framework, with sustainability and innovation at the core.