What Biome Environmental Trust does

Biome Environmental Trust is a public charitable trust registered in India, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, with 17 employees. The organization was formed through the merger of Chitra K Vishwanath Architects and the Rainwater Club into Biome Environmental Solutions, and operates as a 'practice-to-policy bridge' focused on facilitating livelihood-centred sustainable water and sanitation systems. Its core programmatic areas include rainwater harvesting system design and installation in government schools, participatory aquifer mapping in collaboration with ACWADAM, lake rejuvenation and citizen science monitoring (with ATREE and Friends of Lakes), and policy engagement that has shaped the Karnataka State Wastewater Policy and BWSSB technical guidelines. Flagship initiatives include the 'Million Wells for Bengaluru' campaign linking groundwater recharge to well-digger livelihoods, and the Art in Transit mural project at Cubbon Park Metro station.

The organization serves four primary beneficiary segments: government schools (rooftop RWH systems and water literacy), state and municipal government bodies (technical guidelines and training under Jal Jeevan Mission), urban and peri-urban residential communities and RWAs (integrated urban water management, e.g., Rainbow Drive Layout), and lake/citizen groups (rejuvenation and biodiversity monitoring). Notable project scale includes 73 recharge wells in Cubbon Park, RWH systems in 10 government schools in Devanahalli, 140 ASHA workers and health inspectors trained across 18 PHCs in Mulbagal, and a planned 500+ recharge wells in the Bellandur area. The trust produces an extensive multilingual (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi) content library of visual primers, manuals, comic books, posters, and video guides.

Biome operates as a non-profit and does not sell products or services commercially. Revenue is generated entirely through donations (tax-exempt under Section 80G), institutional grants from foundations (Wipro Foundation, Rainmatter Foundation), and project-based corporate CSR funding from companies including ITC Limited, Puravankara, Scania India, Ittiam Systems, ZEISS India, and CreditAccess Grameen. The trust does not hold FCRA clearance and is therefore unable to accept foreign funds, capping its funding universe to domestic sources. International recognition (UNESCO World Heritage Cities Programme 2021, London Design Biennale 2021, UNESCO Groundwater Conference 2022, WHO Sanitation Safety Plan collaboration) and TEDx events (2020, 2021) provide reputational lift but are not monetization channels.

Name

Biome Environmental Trust

Legal name

Biome Environmental Trust

Website

https://biometrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Biome Environmental Trust is a Bengaluru-based non-profit founded in 2009 that designs and implements sustainable water management solutions — rainwater harvesting, participatory aquifer mapping, and lake rejuvenation — for government schools, urban communities, and state agencies in Karnataka and beyond, funded by grants and corporate CSR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Management Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ), Water Reuse & Reclamation Infrastructure Construction (Recycled Water Systems) (IMAFAGAH), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM)

Keywords

• Rainwater harvesting
• Lake rejuvenation services
• Groundwater management
• Water literacy education
• Wastewater reuse consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a public charitable trust registered in India, Biome Environmental Trust relies primarily on donations from individuals and organisations. Donations are eligible for tax exemption under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. The trust does not have FCRA clearance and cannot accept foreign funds.
2. Institutional Funding and Grants: Funding from institutional funders including Wipro Foundation, Rainmatter Foundation, and ITC Limited for specific projects and programs. Also receives project funding from corporate CSR initiatives.
3. Project-Based Corporate CSR Funding: Implementation of water management projects funded by corporate CSR programs from companies including Puravankara, CreditAccess Grameen, India Cares Foundation, Scania, Ittiam Systems, SayTrees, ZEISS India, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Biome Environmental Trust is a public charitable trust that designs and implements sustainable water management solutions, including rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, groundwater recharge structures, participatory aquifer mapping, lake rejuvenation, bioremediation, and wastewater treatment and reuse. It also delivers water literacy programs, training, internships, and policy advisory work, working directly with governments, schools, urban communities, lake groups, and corporate CSR partners.

Product overview

Biome Environmental Trust operates as a non-profit organization (not a unified software product) offering a portfolio of environmental services centered on sustainable water management. The core offerings include rainwater harvesting system design and installation, water literacy education programs, participatory groundwater management initiatives, and lake rejuvenation projects. Supporting these are communication materials, training programs, and awareness campaigns like the 'Million Wells for Bengaluru' initiative. The organization functions as a 'practice-to-policy bridge' working with governments, communities, and organizations rather than selling a commercial software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Million Wells for Bengaluru: A campaign to augment the groundwater table in Bengaluru and help enhance well diggers' livelihoods.
• Art in Transit

Products and services

• Rainwater Harvesting Systems Design, installation, and promotion of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in government schools, residential layouts, and urban communities to augment groundwater and provide sustainable water sources.
• Water Literacy Programs Educational workshops, sessions, and curricula for students, teachers, corporates, and communities on water conservation, sanitation, and sustainable water practices.
• Participatory Groundwater Management Community-driven aquifer mapping and groundwater monitoring programs engaging citizens, government officials, informal-sector workers, and research institutions in sustainable groundwater management.
• Lake Rejuvenation & Citizen Science Programs focused on lake restoration, biodiversity monitoring, water quality testing, and community engagement for the conservation of urban lakes in Bengaluru.
• Million Wells for Bengaluru Campaign Campaign to augment the groundwater table in Bengaluru and support well diggers' livelihoods through systematic well digging, recharge structures, and groundwater replenishment.
• Training & Internship Programs Workshops, internships, and training sessions for students, government officials, plumbers, masons, and professionals on rainwater harvesting and integrated water management techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73 recharge wells dug in Cubbon Park with pond rejuvenation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiome Trust collaborated with WHO on Sanitation Safety Plan (SSP), contributing to WHO's SSP manual development. Avinash and Vishwanath are acknowledged in the WHO SSP documentation.
• Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on Citizen Science and Lakes program, biodiversity walks, lake rejuvenation projects including Jakkur Lake and Kaikondrahalli Lake. Joint workshops and community engagement activities.
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on urban water management training programs including AAETI training sessions, national exposure visits for government officials, and lake rejuvenation initiatives.
• National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on urban wastewater management research and policy discussions. Participation in UNESCO/NIUA webinars on urban water futures.
• ACWADAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Participatory Aquifer Mapping projects in Upper Ponnaiyar watershed and Devanahalli areas. ACWADAM provides hydrogeological expertise and aquifer mapping methodology.
• Friends of LakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on lake rejuvenation, citizen science initiatives, and community engagement for lake protection. Joint Cubbon Park recharge wells project with funding from India Cares.
• Bhoomi CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual 3-4 day workshop on Sustainable Water Management conducted for Bhoomi College students as part of their curriculum, with site visits to project locations.
• Bangalore Apartments' Federation (BAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on water management webinars and awareness programs for apartment associations in Bengaluru.
• St. John's Medical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSessions on water for medical students as part of Health and Humanities program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CSE (Centre for Science and Environment): Established Indian research and advocacy organisation covering environment, water, and pollution, including rainwater harvesting, urban water management, and lake rejuvenation. CSE is a Biome partner on training and national exposure visits; much larger in scope and influence across multiple environmental themes.
• SaciWATERs: South Asia-focused water policy think tank working on irrigation, groundwater, and urban water with research and policy advisory. Comparable to Biome in linking field practice to water policy, with a more academic and pan-South Asian orientation.
• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): Large Indian research institute covering environment, energy, and water with policy, advisory, and field programmes. Operates at significantly greater scale than Biome across multiple sustainability themes, including water resources.
• WaterAid India: Indian arm of the global WaterAid network focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), working with communities and governments across India. Overlaps with Biome on water literacy and community engagement, with substantially larger geographic reach and FCRA-enabled international funding.

Direct peers

• WOTR (Watershed Organization Trust): One of India's largest water-focused NGOs, working on watershed development, groundwater recharge, and participatory water management across rural Maharashtra and other states. Comparable to Biome in focus on community-led water stewardship, though operating at greater scale and predominantly in rural landscapes.
• ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment): India-based research and policy non-profit working on biodiversity, water, and urban ecology, including lake rejuvenation and citizen science. ATREE is a confirmed Biome partner on Citizen Science and Lakes and lake rejuvenation at Jakkur and Kaikondrahalli lakes, and shares a similar Bengaluru-anchored, science-to-practice model.
• Arghyam: Indian philanthropic foundation dedicated to water and sanitation, funding projects, research, and policy work across India. Comparable to Biome in mission, domestic focus on water security, and grant-making plus programme implementation, though Arghyam operates primarily as a funder.
• ACWADAM: Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management is an Indian hydrogeology non-profit that specialises in participatory aquifer mapping and groundwater management, a core area where Biome also operates (including in joint projects in Upper Ponnaiyar and Devanahalli). Highly comparable in mission, methodology, and community-driven groundwater work.
• NIUA (National Institute of Urban Affairs): Government-supported think tank focused on urban policy, including urban water and wastewater management. NIUA collaborates with Biome on urban water futures and wastewater policy, and shares a policy-research orientation addressing Indian urban water challenges.

Emerging players

• Gram Vikas: Odisha-based non-profit implementing community-managed water and sanitation systems in rural and tribal India. Comparable to Biome in community-driven, livelihood-centred water model, though focused on rural rather than urban contexts and with FCRA-enabled international funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zenrainman
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXncyEfaKG03A_l0mceHMOg
• Facebookfacebook.com/biome.environmental.trust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biome-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/biome_water

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biome Environmental Trust