Policy On Water Reuse And Recycling

1. Preamble

Kalinga University recognizes water as a critical natural resource and is committed to its responsible use, conservation, treatment, recycling and reuse. In alignment with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, the University seeks to reduce avoidable freshwater consumption and strengthen circular water-management practices across its academic, residential, administrative and landscaped areas.

The University operates sewage treatment infrastructure and promotes beneficial reuse of treated wastewater for appropriate non-potable applications. This policy establishes a formal institutional framework for wastewater treatment, reuse, water-quality monitoring, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, efficient irrigation, record maintenance and continual improvement.

The policy is intended to ensure that water reuse is undertaken in a safe, measurable and environmentally responsible manner and that the University maintains documentary evidence of its water-management performance.

2. Scope and Applicability

This policy applies to all University-owned and University-managed academic blocks, administrative buildings, hostels, staff/residential facilities, laboratories, cafeterias, sanitation facilities, gardens, landscaped areas, utilities and other campus infrastructure. It applies to students, faculty, non-teaching staff, contractors, service providers and all units involved in water supply, wastewater generation, treatment, reuse, irrigation, maintenance or monitoring.

3. Guiding Principles

• Water Conservation First: Avoid unnecessary consumption and prioritize efficient use before seeking additional freshwater supply.
• Treatment Before Reuse: Wastewater shall be appropriately treated before being reused for an approved purpose.
• Fit-for-Purpose Reuse: Treated water shall be directed to non-potable applications appropriate to its quality and applicable requirements.
• Pollution Prevention: Untreated sewage, chemicals, oils, laboratory waste or hazardous substances shall not be deliberately discharged into reuse systems or natural drainage pathways.
• Resource Circularity: Treated wastewater and harvested rainwater shall be regarded as resources that can reduce dependence on freshwater.
• Monitoring and Evidence: Water treatment, quality testing, maintenance and reuse shall be documented to support institutional accountability and SDG reporting.
• Continuous Improvement: Water-reuse performance shall be periodically reviewed and opportunities for higher recovery, efficiency and reuse shall be identified.

4. Objectives

• Establish a formal University-wide policy for water reuse and recycling.
• Maximize safe reuse of treated wastewater for suitable non-potable applications.
• Reduce dependence on freshwater for gardening, landscaping and other technically suitable uses.
• Ensure effective operation and preventive maintenance of sewage treatment infrastructure.
• Maintain water-quality monitoring before and/or after treatment as appropriate to the reuse application.
• Promote rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge as complementary water-conservation measures.
• Develop measurable records of wastewater treated, water reused, system maintenance and quality testing.
• Build awareness among campus stakeholders regarding water conservation and responsible reuse.
• Support Kalinga University’s contribution to SDG 6 and continuous improvement in sustainable campus operations.

5. Policy Guidelines

5.1 Wastewater Collection and Treatment

Wastewater generated from designated campus sanitation and domestic-use streams shall be routed, wherever infrastructure permits, to the University’s sewage treatment system. Treatment facilities shall be operated in accordance with their technical design, operational requirements and applicable environmental norms. The University shall seek to prevent untreated wastewater from being used directly for irrigation or other reuse purposes.

5.2 Reuse of Treated Wastewater

Treated wastewater shall be reused to the maximum practicable extent for approved non-potable purposes, subject to treatment quality, technical feasibility and safety considerations. Priority reuse applications shall include:

• Garden and landscape irrigation;
• Maintenance of green areas and plantation zones;
• Other non-potable uses approved by the competent University authority where water quality is suitable.

Treated water intended for reuse shall be stored and distributed through appropriate systems so as to minimize cross-connection with potable-water infrastructure. Potable use of treated wastewater is not permitted under this policy unless specifically authorized under applicable law and supported by appropriate treatment and quality assurance.

5.3 Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Management

The University presently maintains STP infrastructure for wastewater treatment. Based on available operational information, five STP units are installed, with a stated capacity of 30 KLD each. The Engineering/Maintenance function shall maintain plant-wise operational records, including operating hours, maintenance activities, chemical use, equipment servicing, breakdowns and corrective actions.

5.4 Water Quality Monitoring and Safety

The University shall undertake periodic water-quality testing of wastewater and treated water at frequencies appropriate to plant operation, reuse purpose and applicable requirements. Test reports shall be retained as evidence. Where a result does not meet the applicable requirement for the intended reuse, the concerned unit shall investigate the cause, take corrective action and restrict reuse where necessary until satisfactory treatment performance is restored.

• Maintain before/after treatment test reports where available.
• Use competent laboratories or approved testing arrangements as applicable.
• Keep treated-water storage and distribution systems reasonably protected from contamination.
• Display appropriate identification/signage for non-potable treated-water systems where necessary.

5.5 Rainwater Harvesting and Groundwater Recharge

Rainwater harvesting, soak pits and borewell/open-well recharge systems shall be maintained as complementary components of the University’s water-conservation strategy. Roof and surface runoff shall, where feasible, be directed to suitable harvesting or recharge structures. Recharge systems shall be periodically inspected and cleaned to preserve functionality and reduce clogging or contamination risks.

5.6 Water-Efficient Landscaping and Irrigation

Campus landscaping shall progressively prioritize water-efficient practices. Treated wastewater shall be preferred over freshwater for gardening wherever quality and infrastructure permit. Irrigation schedules shall be managed to reduce avoidable evaporation and over-watering, and the University shall encourage native, locally suitable and comparatively water-efficient plant species where feasible.

5.7 Reduction of Freshwater Dependency

The University shall progressively reduce the use of freshwater for applications that can safely be met through treated wastewater or harvested rainwater. Water-supply and reuse records shall be reviewed to identify opportunities for conservation, leakage reduction, improved storage, efficient fixtures and expansion of reuse infrastructure.

5.8 Awareness and Capacity Building

The University shall promote responsible water use among students, faculty, staff, residents, contractors and service personnel through awareness activities, signage, orientation, training and relevant academic or extension initiatives. Technical personnel responsible for STP operation and water systems shall receive appropriate operational and safety guidance.

6. Institutional Roles and Responsibilities

7. Monitoring, Measurement and Documentation

To demonstrate effective implementation and support evidence-based sustainability reporting, the University shall progressively maintain the following records:

• Annual and monthly water-supply/consumption records, including tanker and other measured sources where applicable.
• STP-wise operating logs and estimated or metered wastewater-treatment quantities.
• Quantity of treated wastewater reused, where measurement is technically available.
• Water-quality test reports and corrective-action records.
• STP preventive-maintenance, chemical-use and equipment-service records.
• Photographic and technical evidence of treated-water storage, reuse, rainwater harvesting and recharge systems.
• Records of awareness, training and water-conservation initiatives.

Where meters are not presently available, the University shall progressively explore suitable metering or measurement mechanisms to improve the reliability of water-balance and reuse calculations.

Recommended performance indicator: Water Reuse (%) = (Volume of treated/reused water ÷ Total wastewater available for treatment/reuse) × 100, using verified and consistently measured data.

8. Compliance, Risk Management and Corrective Action

All units shall comply with applicable statutory and environmental requirements governing wastewater treatment, discharge, reuse and groundwater management. Any significant malfunction, overflow, untreated discharge, cross-connection, contamination concern or repeated quality failure shall be reported promptly to the responsible University authority. Corrective action shall be documented and the affected reuse activity restricted where necessary until safe operation is restored.

9. Review, Approval and Implementation

This Water Reuse and Recycling Policy shall come into effect from the date of approval by the competent authority of Kalinga University. The policy shall be reviewed at least once every three years, or earlier where required due to regulatory changes, infrastructure expansion, audit observations, technological improvements or institutional sustainability targets.

The University may issue operational procedures, technical instructions and implementation plans under this policy from time to time. Such procedures shall remain consistent with the principles of safe water reuse, pollution prevention, resource efficiency, monitoring and continuous improvement established herein.