WaterHealth India Private Limited (WIPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of WaterHealth International Inc. (WHI), is planning to invest about Rs 135 crore ($32 million) to extend its presence in the country.

The company, which currently provides distributed water services through water centres (WCs) in about 175 villages in Andhra Pradesh, is looking at setting up WCs in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The company wants to take up the number of WCs to 800 from the present 175 in 12 months. This would include installation of 200 WCs with 65 kiloliters per day capacity and 600 WCs with 21 kiloliters per day capacity. Besides foraying into other States, the company is planning to further enhance its presence in Andhra Pradesh.

The overall cost of the project is estimated to be around $32 million. Of this, $14.5 million (Rs 61 crore) would be funded through equity contributed by the village representatives or associated donor agencies situated in the respective states. The balance would be funded through debt.

The company has approached the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a long term loan of $15 million (Rs 63 crore). The long term debt would be raised from IFC against the partial Dow Chemical Company (DCC) guarantee of $7.5 million (Rs 31.5 crore). The balance $2.5 million (Rs 10.5 crore) will be raised through local banks.

Each WC being planned would have equipment assets which can treat and distribute potable water to the community. Besides, installing the equipment, WIPL would provide technical skills and training, maintenance support, oversight on adherence to quality systems and assurance on water quality.

A typical WC draws water from a village pond, which has been earmarked by the village panchayat for drinking water purposes.

The water is pumped from the pond to the WC through buried HDPE pipes. The water is then treated, stored in stainless steel tanks and dispensed through a tap, it said.