Many ways to join the fight against the water crisis

In India, there are different reimaginations of the water problem that is being articulated.

Danielle, the protagonist in Ray Kurzweil’s recent book, Danielle: Chronicles of a SuperHeroine takes water and climate problems in her stride, aided by AI-enabled futuristic sensors and cloud-based intelligence. Nothing seems too big a problem for her and her generation.

Even in India, there are different reimaginations of the water problem that is being articulated. Clean water technologies are getting smarter, like an initiative from IIT Madras that uses sensors to test water quality, or uses post-by-mail papers that can concentrate water contaminants and get it tested by labs.

So what sectors are open to those interested in working in areas around water and what kind of jobs await them there?

Research institutions and universities

Organisations such as Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (multidisciplinary water science research), IISc/IITs (technical research), ICSSR (social science) and NGOs (applied research) employ early career water professionals as junior researchers or associates.

Water treatment and management industry

You can also apply for positions in technology, R&D, marketing, operations and management in the following sectors - water supply, agricultural water management and wastewater treatment.

NGO, NPOs and multilateral agencies

NGOs, government projects and global organisations such as UNICEF offer a range of positions for water specialists. These can be field roles to data collection and analysis, to more strategic roles — like that of a programme manager.

Social enterprises and CSR

Social innovation hubs, water enterprises, start-ups focused on water metering, water testing and water landscaping are increasing avenues for jobs. Water is one of the most important corporate social responsibilities for businesses in India. Many organisations are progressively embracing the idea of sustainability and inviting people to participate in their efforts.

Students or fresh graduates can explore internship opportunities in this ecosystem of firms to get a good sense of the sector. The range of remuneration in these profiles depends on the expertise demonstrated and could be anywhere between Rs 50,000 – Rs 1.25 lakh per month.

Some organisations also offer research opportunities, international collaborations as well as exposure in national and international conferences.

If you are into Massive Open Online Courses and believe in the power that technology brings to help reach out to every citizen and empower them in conserving and valuing water, this nascent area is something where a “Water MOOC” is yet to be made.

Whether you are students deciding which course to take, technology professionals looking for a newer meaning in their work, or citizens wanting to bring about change, water is one area where you can impact the lives of lakhs of people.

(The author is the executive director of a research institution)