MUMBAI: Making a splash in rural Maharashtra! Community-managed Water ATMs are transforming life in ten villages of Phulambri block, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Installed by Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation in partnership with the S M Sehgal Foundation, these kiosks deliver safe, affordable drinking water while boosting groundwater recharge and strengthening local livelihoods.
Part of Anandana’s Refreshing Difference campaign, the Water ATMs have already sparked real change. Digital films capture stories from residents who are seeing tangible benefits every day. Savitri, an Asha worker, shares how she no longer relies on unsafe water or expensive bottled supplies. Kalpana, an Anganwadi Sevika, highlights the relief women feel by avoiding long treks to fetch water. Meanwhile, Kailash, the Water Management Committee secretary, points to savings and improved livelihoods thanks to affordable water access.
Other voices like Nanda and Yogesh describe fewer waterborne illnesses and healthier families, allowing more time for school and agriculture. These accounts reveal the human side of sustainable technology, showing how community engagement and partnership come together to make a real difference.
S M Sehgal Foundation CEO Anjali Makhija said, “The Water ATMs provide families with daily access to safe water while our recharge initiatives improve local water security. This partnership offers long-term relief for villages.”
Anandana director Rajiv Gupta added, “These Water ATMs are more than clean water. They restore dignity, support livelihoods, and create sustainable ecosystems. Through our Refreshing Difference campaign, we are proud to showcase the power of community partnerships.”
Anandana and the Sehgal Foundation have been expanding safe drinking water access across India through Project Jaldhara, enhancing water availability in drought-prone regions and supporting agriculture and rural development in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
This initiative proves that a simple drop can ripple into lasting change, quenching more than just thirst in India’s villages.