In India, RO (Reverse Osmosis) systems have a long history dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when growing urbanization, industry, and water contamination began to raise concerns about clean drinking water. At first, RO systems were imported and sold as high-end goods intended for wealthy urban families. The most widely used filtration techniques in Indian homes at the time were still boiling, cloth sieving, and ceramic filters. Nonetheless, growing health problems brought on by waterborne illnesses raised awareness of the demand for cutting-edge filtration methods. Urban families, hotels, and businesses that needed high-quality water for operational and drinking purposes were the primary early adopters.

By the 2000s, Indian companies have begun producing RO systems domestically, lowering their cost and opening them up to middle-class households. As groundwater pollution rose, companies like Pureit, Aquaguard, and Kent made its use more widely known. Improvements like mineralization, UF, and UV allowed RO systems to adapt to a variety of water conditions. Since they are now necessary industrial and domestic items, India is one of the water purifier marketplaces with the fastest rate of growth.