CII AquaSouth Summit 2026 Highlights Water Circularity, Urban Resilience and Digital Innovation
Industry experts discuss sustainable water management at the third CII AquaSouth Summit in Bengaluru.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the third edition of the CII AquaSouth Summit on 23 October 2026 in Bengaluru under the theme “Resilience & Circularity for South India’s Water Security.” The summit brought together industry leaders, researchers and technology providers to examine water reuse, infrastructure resilience and technological solutions for growing water demand.
The inaugural session featured G V Rao of Volvo Group India, Usha Subramanian of Grundfos India and S Varadarajan of VA Tech Wabag. Their participation set the stage for discussions connecting water security with industrial growth, urban development and sustainability.
Water for the Energy Transition
The first panel, moderated by Usha Subramanian, discussed water requirements across renewable energy, power generation, green hydrogen and data centres. Panellists from Veolia India, EY, NTPC NETRA, Hitachi Energy and WWF-India explored efficiency measures, including cooling technologies and water-use monitoring. The discussions highlighted the need to consider water availability when planning new energy infrastructure
Cities of the Future: Urban Water for 2050
The second session, moderated by Prof L N Rao of the Indian Institute of Science, examined water-smart cities, reliable water supply, urban flooding and the protection of lakes, wetlands and groundwater. Speakers from Ira Water, Biome Trust, IISc and WELL Labs considered how integrated planning, ecological restoration and digital utilities can support resilient cities.
Wastewater to Wealth
Chaired by S Varadarajan, the third session focused on turning treated wastewater into a useful resource. Representatives from the International Centre for Clean Water, Bisleri, Grundfos, Trans Water System, Ion Exchange and Atul-Buckman Specialities discussed industrial recycling, resource recovery, Zero Liquid Discharge and water-positive approaches. Decentralised treatment and practical adoption of established technologies also featured in the discussions.
Smart Water Futures
The concluding session, chaired by E Nandakumar of the International Centre for Clean Water, showcased the role of AI, IoT, analytics and smart monitoring in water management. Technology presentations by FluxGen Technologies, AquaKraft Ventures, Paryai Solutions and Nanneer Global highlighted emerging approaches to operational efficiency, treatment performance and data-informed decision-making.
The summit reinforced a central message: South India’s long-term water security will depend on wider wastewater reuse, efficient infrastructure, technology adoption and collaboration across industry, research and public institutions. The event also enabled meaningful exchanges between water-sector professionals and solution providers.