Research
Welcome to WELL Labs’ knowledge repository. As a futures institute that enables research-based solutions and impact, we prioritise making our insights accessible to social innovators, researchers, allied communities and the public at large.

Acceptance of On-Site Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Bengaluru, India: The Role of Perceived Costs, Risks, and Benefits
In dealing with water pollution and freshwater scarcity, on-site treatment and reuse of domestic wastewater has shown to be a promising solution.

How Water Flows Through Bengaluru: Urban Water Balance Report
WELL Labs has prepared a comprehensive view of Bengaluru’s water system, enabling better water security planning.

WELL Labs Launch Event Proceedings: Research and Innovation for an Uncertain Future
Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs was formally launched on July 26, 2023, at the India International Centre in New Delhi. This document summarises the keynote lecture and the panel discussion on what it will take to deliver a future for rural India that is both ecologically secure and economically vibrant.

Challenges and Opportunities for Catalysing Corporate Water Stewardship in India’s River Basins
Given the push for investments in the water sustainability space, businesses need to be better informed about where the big problems lie so that projects can be properly planned and executed. But there’s a data gap. Our comprehensive study of three important river basins — Cauvery, Ganga and Krishna — aims to address this gap.

Farmer Responses to Solar Irrigation in India: Agent-Based Modelling to Understand Sustainable Transitions
We applied an agent-based modeling (ABM) approach to understand farmer choices and transitions before and after solar irrigation in six districts

Landscape Review: Innovation Gaps in India’s Agritech Startup Ecosystem
Through this landscape review, we take a closer look at agritech startups to identify how to secure the livelihoods of farmers while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns

Phosphorus Balance Study at Jakkur Lake
We conducted a phosphorus balance study to understand the sources and sinks of phosphorus in Jakkur lake

Challenges and Opportunities in Residential Decentralised Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Bengaluru
We explore the potential of decentralised sewage treatment plants, which are being promoted in cities like Bengaluru, to treat sewage at the source of generation

Net Water Positivity in the Indian Context: A Framework for Exploring Industrial Pathways to Water Sustainability
We explore how to bring aquifers back into balance by increasing recharge and reducing abstraction. We also make the case for a system of water credits to effectively drive collective action.

How Do We Manage Nutrient Levels in Urban Lakes?
This article is the sixth in a multi-part series on lakes that aims to provide a comprehensive overview of lake related problems in Bangalore and approaches to address them. This article discusses how lake nutrients, specifically phosphorus, can be managed.