💧 THE AC WATER BUSINESS IN NIGERIA
Turning Air Conditioner Wastewater Into Steady Monthly Income
✅ What Is AC Water?
AC water is the clear liquid that drains from an air conditioner during cooling. This is not rainwater or tap water, but condensate—water extracted from the air as the AC removes humidity.
In the past, this water was seen as waste. But today, smart Nigerians are collecting it, packaging it, and selling it for profit, especially as:
- Battery water (for car/inverter batteries)
- Steam iron water
- Water for car wash, laundry, and household cleaning
⚙️ How the AC Water Process Works (Step-by-Step)
Here’s how the full process looks from start to finish:
1. Collection
- Every AC unit has a small pipe or hose where water drips out during use.
- Place a clean bucket, jerrycan or drum under this hose.
- For bigger buildings (like offices or hotels), connect multiple AC pipes to a central tank using PVC pipes.
👉 Each AC can produce between 5 to 30 liters per day, depending on size and usage time.
2. Filtration & Treatment
AC water is clean-looking but may contain bacteria, dust, mold, or tiny particles from the AC coil. To make it suitable for use:
- Use a mesh or cloth filter to remove particles
- Optionally add:
- A few drops of bleach (for disinfection)
- UV sterilizers or carbon filters if available
- If selling for battery use, ensure zero oil or rust contamination
3. Packaging
- Pour the filtered water into labelled jerrycans, bottles, or gallons
- Seal properly to avoid contamination
- If targeting mechanics or battery sellers, use 5L, 10L, or 25L containers
4. Marketing & Selling
You can sell directly to:
- Battery and inverter sellers
- Auto mechanics
- Laundry shops and car washes
- Steam iron users (tailors, salons, dry cleaners)
- Households for cleaning or gardening
Market through:
- WhatsApp groups
- Flyers near mechanic workshops
- Word of mouth
- Online (Jiji, Facebook Marketplace)
💰 How Much Can You Sell It For?
| Container Size | Common Selling Price |
|---|---|
| 5 Litres | ₦200 – ₦300 |
| 10 Litres | ₦400 – ₦600 |
| 25 Litres | ₦800 – ₦1,200 |
Prices depend on location, packaging, and cleanliness of the water.
📊 How Much Can You Make Monthly?
Let’s do the math assuming a modest setup:
Example: You have 3 split ACs running 10 hours/day
- Each gives ~15 litres/day
- That’s 45 litres/day total
- In 30 days: 45 x 30 = 1,350 litres
If sold in 25L containers (₦1,000 each):
- 1,350 ÷ 25 = 54 containers
- 54 containers x ₦1,000 = ₦54,000/month
Now imagine a hotel or office with 20+ ACs producing 500+ litres daily.
- 500L/day x 30 days = 15,000 litres/month
- That’s ₦500,000 to ₦1,000,000/month possible from bulk sales.
🔝 How to Maximize Profit
Here are some smart ways to grow and scale:
✅ 1. Use More ACs
Partner with:
- Hotels
- Churches
- Office buildings
- Event centers
Offer to collect the water for free and share profits if needed.
✅ 2. Add Basic Purification
Use filters and storage tanks to improve quality. Clean water sells better and can be used for more purposes.
✅ 3. Brand & Package
Create a label like:
“EcoSoft AC Water – Pure Water for Batteries & Cleaning”
Neatly branded water in sealed jerrycans earns more than unlabelled water in reused gallons.
✅ 4. Find Bulk Buyers
Focus on:
- Mechanic clusters
- Car wash centers
- Battery dealers
- Generator repairers
- Tailors and salons (for steam iron use)
Offer discounts for consistent bulk purchases.
✅ 5. Delivery Option
If you can offer same-day delivery using bikes or tricycles, you will gain loyal customers.
📌 Important Notes & Warnings
| Caution | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ❌ Not for drinking | AC water may look clean, but it’s not safe to drink without serious purification. |
| 💦 Clean your storage | Always clean your containers and storage tanks to prevent bacterial growth. |
| 🔌 Needs power | You need regular power supply for ACs to run long enough to generate water. |
| 🧪 No NAFDAC registration required | Unless you’re selling it for drinking purposes. |
✅ Summary: Is It Worth It?
Yes! If you have access to multiple ACs and basic packaging tools, this is a smart, low-cost business with steady demand.
Pros:
- Very low startup cost
- Water is free — just collect and sell
- Growing demand due to rising battery use and water scarcity
- Can run from your home or office
Cons:
- Limited water if you have few ACs
- Not a “get-rich-quick” business
- Must maintain hygiene and packaging quality
🎯 Final Advice
If you want to get started:
✅ Start with your home or office AC
✅ Collect and filter daily
✅ Package neatly and sell locally
✅ Then scale by partnering with AC-heavy buildings
