12 Water Related Business Ideas in India for Small Investors

Water business opportunities are diverse. 

Water can be a product, such as packaged water or organic skincare, or a service, such as tank cleaning, irrigation services, or recycling water. 

Be it a small business that you can operate from home or a scalable one, there’s a water-centric idea that will meet your idea or your goal. 

The need for water related business opportunities in India is expanding rapidly, and anyone who comes in now can establish a business that’s lucrative and meaningful. 

Here, we will be discussing practical and rewarding water business opportunities that can help you in beginning something worthy.

Tapping Into The Business of Water 

Whether you are passionate about conservation, technology, or adventure, there is an idea here for you. 

Let’s get started. 

Water Pumping and Restoration Services 

A water pumping and restoration service helps households, offices, and commercial units remove excess water after heavy rainfall. You may also provide drying and mould-preventing services to stop further damage. This business is particularly lucrative during monsoon years in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Target Market: House owners, commercial property holders, warehouses, hotels, and municipal corporations

Investment: ₹3 – ₹10 lakh for industrial water pumps, drying equipment, and transport vehicles

Profit Margin: 40-60% per job, as emergency services are charged at a premium (₹5,000 – ₹50,000 per service) 

Smart Water Purifier Business 

Purifiers are common, but smart purifiers with real-time monitoring of water quality, IoT connectivity, and filter replacement alerts are the way forward. Selling or leasing such purifiers can win customers who seek convenience and reliability in their drinking water systems. A subscription-based model for filter replacement and servicing guarantees long-term customer retention and consistent revenue. 

Target Market: Households, offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants. 

Investment: ₹20 lakh – ₹1 crore for R&D, manufacturing, and marketing. 

Profit Margin: 40-60%, with recurring revenue from filter replacements and service subscriptions.

Alkaline Water Manufacturing & Delivery 

A company catering to bottled alkaline water or office/home alkaline dispensers can find its niche in the premium water category. In the wellness sector, alkaline water is sold as a better variant of normal water. With effective branding and promotion, this business can have customer loyalty from value-conscious health advocates who are happy to pay the premium. 

Target Market: Sports enthusiasts, fitness centers, business offices, value-conscious health freaks. 

Investment: ₹30 lakh – ₹1 crore for production, branding, and distribution. 

Profit Margin: 40-60%, particularly in the premium bottled water segment.

Irrigation Expert Services 

A water expert service helps farmers choose the best irrigation methods for their crops to reduce water waste and improve crop yield. 

You can offer consultations, installation services and even sell irrigation equipment. 

With proper outreach, this business can scale quickly in rural and semi-urban areas. 

Target Market: Farmers, crop producers, greenhouses and government agricultural departments. 

Investment: About 3 – 10 lakh for equipment, plots and marketing.

Profit Margin: 30-50% with earnings from consulting fees installation costs and product sales. 

Water Recycling Business 

The business includes establishing filtration systems that purify wastewater and render it reusable. Owing to government regulations, industries are compelled to cut down on water wastage. As more companies go green, water recycling is enormous in terms of profit margins and long-term demand. 

Target Market: Industries, hotels, residential complexes, and municipal corporations. 

Investment: ₹10 – ₹50 lakh for filtration equipment, installation tools, and licensing. 

Profit Margin: 40-60%, with long-term service contracts guaranteeing consistent revenue. 

Packaged Natural Spring Water Business 

Starting a bottling and distribution business of naturally available mineral water can mark your entry into the premium bottled water market. If branded correctly and packaged using environmentally friendly packaging, this business can find favour among health-aware customers who will be willing to pay a higher price. Premium bottled water companies have experienced growth at lightning speed, and with the correct marketing and distribution, this business can be very lucrative. 

Target Market: Urban homes, gyms, hotels, restaurants, and corporate offices. 

Investment: ₹50 lakh – ₹2 crore for procurement, purification, bottling, and branding.

Profit Margin: 35-55%, particularly in the premium bottled water category. 

Water Conservation Consultancy

A water conservation consultancy helps save water through leak detection, efficient usage of water, and recycling systems. You can offer services such as water audits, smart metering, and training programs for the sustainable use of water. 

Target Market: Housing societies, hotels, hospitals, factories, and commercial places. 

Investment: ₹50,000 – ₹2 lakh for the registration of a business, the basic tools required, website creation, and marketing. 

Profit Margin: 50-70%, due to the very high consulting fee, which runs into ₹ 10,000 to ₹1 lakh per project. 

Installing Rainwater Harvesting System 

This is about designing and putting up rainwater collection systems at homes, schools, factories and offices. Such a system saves rainwater so that dependence upon groundwater and supply from municipalities comes down. As many state governments also offer subsidization, the business is commercially viable. 

Target Market: Apartment complexes, Schools, Hospitals, Factories and Government buildings. 

Investment: ₹1 – ₹5 lakh for equipment, storage tanks, marketing, and labour. 

Profit Margin: 30-50% per project, with installation charges between ₹50,000 and ₹5 lakh. 

Underground Water Tank Cleaning Business 

A professional tank cleaning service that utilizes high-pressure jet sprays, antibacterial treatments, and robotic cleaning solutions will address this issue for homes, apartments, and businesses. Proper tank cleaning is needed for safe consumption and use of water, but most buildings do not get it done because there is no professional service to use. A credible and affordable cleaning business will establish trust and have long-term customers.

Target Market: Housing societies, hotels, hospitals, schools, corporate offices, industrial units.

Investment: ₹5 lakh – ₹15 lakh on cleaning equipment, training staff, and marketing.

Profit Margin: 30-50%, with chances of repeat business through annual maintenance contracts.

Waterless Car Wash Business 

The conventional car washes employ as much as a hundred liters of water for every vehicle, which is a wasteful expenditure. A waterless car wash business that uses environment-friendly cleaning sprays and microfiber cloths saves water but leaves the vehicles clean. It may be made available as an on-demand doorstep service or through special facilities. A mobile waterless car wash business is convenient and environment-friendly, a business that will turn a good profit. 

Target Market: Car owners, business fleets, rentals, and condominiums.

Investment: ₹3 lakh – ₹10 lakh for brands, equipment, and cleaning material. 

Profit Margin: 50-70%, high demand in low-water cities, and low costs of operation.

Drinking Water Ice Cube Manufacturing 

Setting up an automated ice cube manufacturing facility provides a continuous supply of clean ice cubes for drinks and parties. Through bulk orders from companies and packaged retailing, this venture can grow rapidly. 

Target Market: Hotels, bars, catering companies, event managers, supermarkets. 

Investment: ₹10 lakh – ₹50 lakh on industrial ice makers, packing, and delivery. 

Profit Margin: 40-60%, with regular demand in summer and winter seasons. 

Water-Based Organic Skincare Products Business 

Skincare products such as hydrating face mists, serums, lotions, and gels utilize purified water as the base ingredient with herbal extracts, essential oils, and minerals added to them. Emphasizing green packaging and Ayurvedic formulations will gain a dedicated customer following. A well-branded and influencer-marketed organic skincare company can take off, both digitally and through retail affiliations. 

Target Market: Health-oriented customers, beauty lovers, spas, salons, online shoppers for skincare products. 

Investment: ₹15 lakh – ₹1 crore in developing the product, building brand, obtaining certifications, and promotion. 

Profit Margin: 50-70%, particularly for premium and niche organic skincare brands. 

Water is one of the most precious resources, and companies that are based on it will always be in demand. 

The increasing demand for clean, available, and well-governed water makes this a future-proof industry. 

Take the first step, research, and get going! 

If you liked this blog, do share it with others who may be interested in starting a water business.