My Lake Restoration Journey: Finding my Purpose

Written by Ketan Bhutada

Three years ago, I entered Mumbai City, without thinking about the lifestyle, the challenges, and as someone who knew very little about the world of lake restoration. I was stepping into an industry that was completely new to me. I did not know where this journey would eventually take me.

During my bachelor's degree, I was introduced to environmental work through Lemnion Green Solutions under Dr Prasanna Jogdeo. He taught me the basics of how we can naturally rejuvenate ponds and water bodies. Every Saturday, we went to the pond, cleaned it, understood its condition and worked towards improving it. This slowly increased my interest in the environment and water-body restoration.

At that time, I was studying microbiology. I had never imagined that I would eventually build my career around lakes.

But one thing I learnt during college stayed with me: what we learn in classrooms can actually be applied to solving real-world problems.

This belief became much stronger when I started my professional journey at Organica Biotech in Mumbai, where I had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Dr Ganesh Kamath and his team. They helped me understand the practical side of environmental work and gave me the opportunity to use what I had learnt through microbiology and apply it in the field.
 

From microbiology to lakes

Over the past three and a half years, I have had the opportunity to visit and work with more than 50 lakes and water bodies across India. Every lake has taught me something different. Some had excessive algae. Some had odour problems. Others were receiving polluted wastewater or had lost much of their ecological balance. 

But one thing remained common: every lake had a story.

I gradually realised that lake restoration is not only about applying technology or improving a water-quality parameter. It is about understanding the ecosystem, the people who depend on it and what caused the problem in the first place.
This journey also taught me that young professionals have enormous opportunities in the water sector.

I am particularly proud of one project I had the opportunity to lead and witness the impact beyond water-quality improvement. As part of the restoration, more than 10 different species (of more than 5,000 fishes) were brought back into the lake, helping restore aquatic life and the ecological balance of the water body. Plus, more than 33 bird species came back to the lake after the restoration.

Today, more than 2,000 people visit the lake, something that would have been difficult to imagine when the water body was in a degraded condition. Seeing people and the aquatic life return to the lake, has given me even more inspiration to work towards rejuvenation efforts.

For me, this is what lake restoration is truly about. It is about creating an impact on the ecosystem; the community and livelihoods connected to it.

An opportunity for the next generation

Writing this blog, I want more young people to realise that the water sector needs them. It needs microbiologists, environmental scientists, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs and, most importantly, people who are willing to work on the ground.

As we celebrate World Lake Day 2026 under the theme “Lakes: The Lifeblood of Our Planet,” I believe we should also ask ourselves: Who will take responsibility for these lakes in the future?

I believe the answer lies partly with the next generation.

My journey began with a simple exposure to pond restoration during my college days, followed by entering Mumbai and stepping into a completely new professional world. Three and a half years later, lakes have become an important part of my professional journey and purpose.

I still have a lot to learn, but one thing I know for certain: Restoring a lake is not just restoring water. It is helping restore life around it.

And I hope more young people choose to become a part of that journey.