How we research clean water, treat and recycle all the water our campuses use, handle waste safely, and help nearby communities get clean water and better sanitation.
UPES report on Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
How UPES contributes to clean water and sanitation
At UPES, clean water and sanitation are part of how the whole university works, not a single project. Our researchers turn wastewater into a resource, our campus treats and reuses every drop it uses, everyone on campus drinks safe water free of charge, and our students take water care into the villages and rivers around Dehradun, working alongside government to protect water for the future.
0litres of untreated wastewater discharged
650 KLDsewage treatment capacity across both campuses
30 millionlitres of water saved a year
615water and sanitation research publications
1,000school students taught hygiene and water care
We research
A first-of-its-kind microalgae plant reclaims water from a municipal canal, low-cost sensors detect contaminants in drinking water, and studies track microplastics in Himalayan rivers and lakes.
We treat every drop
Sewage treatment plants on both campuses treat all wastewater, and UPES operates on a Zero Water Discharge policy.
We give safe water free
UV-treated drinking water reaches every academic building and hostel, free for students, staff and visitors, without the waste of reverse-osmosis purifiers.
We reuse and recharge
Treated water keeps the campus green, and metered rainwater harvesting pits put water back into the ground.
We teach and reach out
Students run hygiene lessons in government schools, water-conservation days in villages, river clean-ups and well and pond restoration.
We work with government
UPES supports the Jal Jeevan Mission, builds DST-funded water technology, and hosts international water forums with the National Institute of Hydrology.
1Research for clean water
UPES researchers measure pollution in rivers and lakes, design cheap ways to test and treat water, and turn wastewater into a resource.
Impact
UPES research turns sewage into clean water and energy, and gives communities cheap, reliable ways to test their water.
615water and sanitation research publications
19,116citations to this research
TRL 7wastewater reclamation plant, first of its kind in India
₹73 lakhproject behind the microalgae plant
A DST-funded microalgae plant reclaims water from a municipal canal and turns waste into bio-oil, biogas and bio-fertiliser, with zero waste.
Low-cost sensors detect heavy metals and harmful microbes in drinking water.
Research on microplastics in rivers and Himalayan lakes proposes monitoring and clean-up frameworks.
HILL is building a simple solar thermal water purifier for villages in hilly terrain.
PhD scholar Srishti Sinha Ray won the Best Poster Award at IFAWET-5, the international water forum hosted by UPES in August 2025.
These figures cover UPES research publications on clean water and sanitation from 2021 to 2025 (source: Scopus, October 2026). The full list of 815 publications since 2007, with links, is in the annexure.
615water and sanitation research publications
19,116citations to these papers
31.1citations per paper
What the research covers
Number of papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).
Theme
Papers
Wastewater and sewage treatment
287
Heavy metals, dyes and emerging contaminants
214
Water quality monitoring and sensors
202
Adsorbents and materials for removing pollutants
183
Groundwater, rivers and water resources
141
Irrigation and water for agriculture
94
Desalination and membranes
54
Sanitation and hygiene
7
Most cited work on water
Current research trends on emerging contaminants pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs): A comprehensive review[22] (Science of the Total Environment, 2023), cited 361 times.
Novel insights into Anammox-based processes: A critical review[23] (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022), cited 266 times.
Progress in layered double hydroxides (LDHs): Synthesis and application in adsorption, catalysis and photoreduction[24] (Science of the Total Environment, 2024), cited 250 times.
Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Wastewater Treatment: Superior Adsorbent Materials for the Removal of Hazardous Pollutants[25] (ACS Omega, 2023), cited 246 times.
IoT and Machine Learning Approaches for Automation of Farm Irrigation System[26] (Procedia Computer Science, 2020), cited 232 times.
The full list of publications, with links, is in the annexure.
Research spotlights
Sewage into clean water and energy. Prof Bhawna Yadav Lamba's DST-funded microalgae plant treats sewage from a municipal canal, reclaims the water and turns the algae and sludge into bio-oil, biogas and bio-fertiliser. Built with the NGO Vikalp Nai Dishayen, it has reached Technology Readiness Level 7. Source: UPES blog.
Sensors to catch contamination. Prof Ashish Mathur's team develops low-cost sensors that detect heavy metals and harmful microbes in drinking water, presented at IFAWET-2025, which UPES co-hosted. Source: R&D Newsletter Jul–Dec 2025, p. 37.
The keynote on water-quality sensing at IFAWET-2025.
Microplastics in rivers and lakes. With Technische Hochschule Bingen, UPES researchers compiled microplastic data from German rivers, groundwater and treatment plants and proposed harmonised measurement protocols (2025). A second review of 127 studies compared Himalayan lakes with the Alps and Andes and proposed monitoring and clean-up frameworks for high-altitude lakes (2025). Source: Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2025.
Arsenic in groundwater. School of Health Sciences and Technology researchers studied five years of groundwater from the arsenic-contaminated shallow aquifers of Laksar, Haridwar, in the Upper Ganga Plain, and showed that indigenous arsenite-oxidising bacteria could support site-specific bioremediation of arsenic-contaminated water (ACS ES&T Water). Source: Geochemistry and bioremediation implications of indigenous arsenite-oxidizing bacteria (ACS ES&T Water).
linkedin.com
Announcement of the paper in ACS ES&T Water.
Water for mountain villages. HILL is working with French institutions on water quality and availability under climate change, and building a simple solar thermal water purifier for villages in hilly terrain. A separate project studies water quality and microplastics in slum communities along Dehradun's urban rivers. Source: UPES blog · UPES research projects.
This section covers the indicators on research on water.
2Water use and extraction on campus
UPES draws its water from its own bore wells, puts rainwater back into the ground, and has cut water waste sharply by changing how it purifies drinking water.
Impact
UPES saves tens of millions of litres a year by recharging groundwater, reusing treated water and ending wasteful purification.
30 millionlitres saved a year by removing RO purifiers
89%water savings through recharge and reuse
6bore wells, managed with conservation measures
Rainwater harvesting pits fitted with flow meters measure how much water goes back into the ground.
Every litre of wastewater is treated and reused on campus, reducing the need to draw fresh groundwater.
Removing reverse-osmosis purifiers stopped about three litres being wasted for every litre purified.
Reuse before extraction. Treated wastewater, not fresh groundwater, is used for landscaping, horticulture and other non-drinking needs (see section 5).
Cutting water waste. After tests confirmed that the campus supply was safe to drink, UPES removed reverse-osmosis (RO) purifiers, which waste about three litres of water for every litre they purify, and switched entirely to UV-treated water. The change saves about 30 million litres a year and keeps essential minerals in drinking water. The Vice Chancellor highlighted it at Sustainability Fair 3.0 in April 2025.
Sustainability Fair 3.0, April 2025, where the Vice Chancellor presented the switch from RO to UV-treated water.
This section covers the indicators on water consumption per person and sustainable water extraction on campus.
3Wastewater, sanitation and pollution control
UPES treats every drop of its wastewater on campus, separates its waste at source, and keeps pollution out of rivers, soil and groundwater.
Impact
Not a single litre of untreated wastewater leaves UPES, which operates on a Zero Water Discharge policy.
650 KLDsewage treatment capacity
0litres of untreated wastewater discharged
5waste streams separated at source
All campus wastewater is treated in sewage treatment plants and reused on site.
Hazardous waste such as chemical containers and used oil is handled by authorised agencies, so it cannot reach water sources.
Sanitary waste is handled as biomedical waste, protecting sanitation workers and the environment.
Wastewater treatment
Sewage treatment. A sewage treatment system with a capacity of 650 kilolitres a day treats all wastewater produced on campus, and the treated water is reused rather than discharged. Source: Student facilities, Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, Utilities.
Preventing polluted water entering the water system
Policy commitment. The UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy (2025)[10] requires safe disposal and treatment of wastewater and prevention of contamination of natural water sources (clause 5.3.2), with regular monitoring and maintenance of water supply systems (clause 5.2).
Five waste streams. Separating waste at source keeps pollutants away from drains and groundwater. As set out in the UPES water and waste management report[6], waste is separated where it is produced into wet organic waste, dry recyclables, hazardous waste such as chemical containers and used oil, e-waste, and biomedical and sanitary waste.
Authorised disposal. So that no waste can reach water sources, every stream is collected, stored, transported and disposed of through authorised agencies in line with environmental regulations, with recycling preferred over landfill. Biomedical waste is managed under authorisation from the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, with colour-coded segregation bins at the infirmary.
Menstrual hygiene. Sanitary pad dispensers are installed in women's hostels, and sanitary waste is handled as biomedical waste. UPES has also partnered with Sirona in a drive to make it the first pad-free university in India. Source: Facilities and services for women students at UPES, Adgully on Sirona and UPES.
A sanitary pad dispenser (more).A menstrual health awareness session at UPES.
This section covers the indicators on wastewater treatment and preventing polluted water entering the water system.
4Drinking water and water-wise campus design
UPES provides free drinking water to every student, staff member and visitor on both campuses, and its buildings and grounds are designed and run to use less water.
Impact
UPES provides free, safe, mineral-rich drinking water to everyone on campus, from a supply that wastes almost nothing.
2water treatment plants, one on each campus
UVtreatment for all drinking water
Freedrinking water for students, staff and visitors
Treated water reaches academic buildings, hostels and other facilities through a network of storage tanks, pumps and pipelines.
Switching from RO to UV treatment keeps essential minerals in drinking water while saving water.
Water-efficient fixtures and treated-water irrigation reduce demand for fresh water.
Free drinking water
Free drinking water. Water treatment plants on the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, with UV filtration, supply potable water through a network of storage tanks, pumps and pipelines to academic, residential, recreational and utility facilities. UPES provides this drinking water free of charge to all students, staff and visitors. Source: Student facilities, Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, Utilities, Free drinking water and water-saving fittings at UPES.
Water-conscious buildings. The UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy (2025)[10] requires water-efficient fixtures and technologies across campus facilities, rainwater harvesting and efficient water management systems (clause 5.2). New buildings and renovations follow the National Building Code of India and green building rating systems such as GRIHA and IGBC wherever feasible (clause 5.1.1). Source: Free drinking water and water-saving fittings at UPES.
Water-conscious landscaping. The UPES campus grounds are landscaped with native and drought-tolerant trees that need little water. They include species adapted to dry conditions, such as Shami, Neem and Date Palm; the Triangle Palm and Spineless Yucca, which need little water once established; and long-lived native trees such as Sal, Peepal, Amla and Jamun. Gardens, lawns and horticulture on both campuses are watered with treated wastewater from the campus sewage treatment system, more than 250 kilolitres a day, rather than with fresh groundwater. The UPES Energy, Environment and Sustainability Policy (2025) commits the university to maintaining green landscapes and protecting biodiversity on campus (clause 5.4), and the campus is also plastic-free (see the campus water and green facilities report[12]). Source: Student facilities, Green Campus, Native and drought-tolerant trees on campus.
Native planting in front of campus buildings.Spineless Yucca, which needs little water once established, Bidholi campus (The Roots of UPES).
The Roots of UPES. The Department of Social Outreach has published The Roots of UPES, a field record of the trees of the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, based on tree records from the Admin (Horticulture) Department. It documents 73 trees of 55 species one by one, each with a photograph, scientific name, family, native range, typical height and location, and shows which trees are adapted to dry conditions or need little water once established. UPES shares the record with government departments, conservation bodies and partner organisations as an open record of the green cover of the Doon Valley. Source: The Roots of UPES (PDF).
This section covers the indicators on free drinking water for students, staff and visitors, water-conscious building standards and water-conscious planting (landscaping).
5Water reuse
UPES has a written policy to recycle its wastewater, and it measures how much treated water it puts back to use every day.
Impact
Treated wastewater, not fresh water, keeps the campus green: hundreds of kilolitres a day are reused instead of discharged.
250+ KLof treated water reused every day for horticulture
550 KLPDwater recycling capacity
89%water savings through recharge and reuse
Reuse is written into university policy, not left to chance.
Flow meters on every rainwater harvesting pit record how much water is returned to the ground.
Recycled water replaces groundwater for landscaping, horticulture and other non-drinking uses.
Water reuse policy
Water reuse policy. The UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy (2025)[10] commits the university to implement wastewater recycling and responsible discharge systems (clause 5.2) and to run rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling initiatives (clause 5.3.2). An Energy, Environment & Sustainability Committee monitors resource use and reports on it.
Daily reuse. UPES records how much treated water it reuses: more than 250 kilolitres of treated water a day are reused in the horticulture section and for other non-drinking uses. Source: Student facilities, Green Campus.
Campus lawns are watered with treated wastewater.
Recycling capacity. UPES has a wastewater treatment plant of 550 kilolitres a day, which allows treated water to be reused for horticulture and gardening, alongside a 600 KLD water treatment plant. Source: Borewells, rainwater harvesting and water reuse at UPES.
Metered recharge. UPES has six rainwater harvesting pits with dedicated metering of the water recharged, an online piezometer monitors the water table, and all pits have flow meters to record the water fed back into the ground; together, recharge and reuse save 89% of water. Source: Borewells, rainwater harvesting and water reuse at UPES.
This section covers the indicators on water reuse policy and measuring water reuse.
6Water education for the community
UPES students and staff teach water care, hygiene and rainwater harvesting in nearby villages and schools, free of charge.
Impact
From village schools to women's groups, UPES teaches communities how to use, protect and save water.
1,000school students taught hygiene and resource conservation
155students at GIC Paundha working on water conservation
1,200women trained in menstrual health
A water-conservation day in Bidholi village showed residents how rainwater harvesting works.
NSS volunteers took water and cleanliness education into Bidholi village during Swachhta Pakhwara.
Students teach hygiene and water care in government schools.
Programmes in schools and villages
Hygiene education. Students teach water care and hygiene in local schools: GS3's Project Ayushman taught hygiene and resource conservation to about 1,000 students in eight government schools.
Young problem-solvers. On 11 August 2026, Runway Incubator and the Department of Social Outreach worked with 155 students of classes 9 to 12 at Government Inter College, Paundha, where water conservation and smart water use was one of five community challenges the students tackled (see the event report[14]).
The “Become a Community Problem Solver” session at GIC Paundha, August 2026.
Jal Samadhan. During its seven-day camp in April 2023, NSS UPES held a water-conservation day in Bidholi village with a rally on rainwater harvesting, an explanation of how it works, live working models and a street play.
Jal Samadhan, an NSS water-conservation day in Bidholi village.
Swachhta Pakhwara. During Swachhta Pakhwara, NSS volunteers took water and cleanliness education into Bidholi village and the campus, with drives, street plays and competitions, including a Water and Forest Conservation competition.
Menstrual health. UPES teaches menstrual hygiene to women and girls. Project Lakhon Khawahishen gave reusable menstrual cups and training to about 1,200 women, and GS3's Project Sakhi reached more than 1,000 girls in 10 government schools. Source: DSO Community Engagement & Social Impact Report, Project Lakhon Khawahishen.
This section covers the indicator on water management education for the community.
7Promoting conscious water use
UPES encourages careful water use on its campuses and in the community around them, through policy, visible changes on campus and campaigns in villages and schools.
Impact
UPES makes saving water visible on campus and takes the message into nearby villages and schools.
30 millionlitres a year saved by ending RO purification
3 litresof water no longer wasted for every litre purified
Clause 5.6policy commitment to awareness programmes
The Vice Chancellor showcased the switch from RO to UV water at Sustainability Fair 3.0.
Street plays, rallies and workshops in villages encourage households to harvest rainwater.
The sustainability policy requires awareness programmes on responsible resource use.
Drought-tolerant trees such as Shami, Neem and Spineless Yucca keep the campus green with less water.
On campus
On campus. At Sustainability Fair 3.0 (9–10 April 2025), the Vice Chancellor and Padma Bhushan environmentalist Dr Anil Prakash Joshi explained the switch from RO to UV-treated water and how it cuts water waste.
Policy commitment. The UPES Energy, Environment and Sustainability Policy (2025) commits the university to conduct workshops, seminars and awareness programmes on sustainability, to encourage students and faculty to take part in environmental initiatives, and to promote responsible resource consumption across campus (clause 5.6). It also requires water-efficient fixtures and efficient water management in every campus facility (clause 5.2). Source: UPES Energy, Environment and Sustainability Policy (PDF).
Less water wasted, every day. UPES removed reverse-osmosis purifiers, which waste about three litres of water for every litre they purify, and switched entirely to UV-treated drinking water, saving about 30 million litres a year. Students and staff see the change at every drinking-water point on campus (see Section 2). Source: 2. Water use and extraction on campus.
Trees that need little water. UPES plants and cares for trees that need little water, so the campus stays green without drawing heavily on fresh water. The Roots of UPES, a tree-by-tree record of 73 trees of 55 species on the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, shows species adapted to dry conditions, such as the Shami, which survives in poor, dry soils, the Neem, which tolerates drought well, and the Date Palm, an iconic tree of arid regions; the Triangle Palm and Spineless Yucca, which need little water once established; and long-lived native trees such as Sal, Peepal, Amla and Jamun. These trees grow alongside gardens watered with treated wastewater rather than fresh groundwater, and show students, staff and visitors every day how a campus can be green while using less water. Source: Native and drought-tolerant trees on campus, The Roots of UPES (PDF).
Triangle Palm, drought-tolerant once established, Bidholi campus.Shami, adapted to dry conditions, Bidholi campus.
In the wider community
In the community. Street plays, rallies and workshops in villages and schools encourage households to harvest rainwater and save water.
GreenUp Club students teach children about saving water, Atmosphere 2024.
Campaigns in villages and schools. NSS UPES ran a rally on rainwater harvesting with working models and a street play during Jal Samadhan in Bidholi village, NSS volunteers held a Water and Forest Conservation competition during Swachhta Pakhwara, and 155 students at Government Inter College, Paundha, took on water conservation and smart water use as a community challenge (see Section 6). Source: 6. Water education for the community.
This section covers the indicator on promoting conscious water use on campus and in the wider community.
8Off-campus water conservation
UPES students restore water sources, bring safe water to villages and clean rivers around Dehradun.
Impact
UPES students protect and restore water sources beyond the campus.
5river clean-up drives under Project Naraini
2villages, Dhalani and Koti, supported as model villages
Wells and ponds have been restored under the Jal Jeevan Mission with a local NGO.
Village households gained water filters after a community water-needs assessment.
Protecting water beyond the campus
Restoring water sources. Srijan interns working with Bhawana Sewa Sansthan helped restore wells and ponds under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Source: Srijan Social Internship.
Water for villages. Srijan interns working with Urvita assessed community water needs and helped install water filters.
Model villages. Project Swachhata keeps the community areas next to the campus clean through sustained cleaning drives under the Clean India mission, and Project Utthan aims to turn the villages of Dhalani and Koti into model smart villages, with a focus on health, education and livelihoods. Source: Project Utthan, Project Swachhta.
This section covers the indicator on off-campus water conservation.
9Working with government on water security
UPES works with local, national and international government bodies and institutions on water security.
Impact
UPES works with government on water, from groundwater rules to national missions and international forums.
12countries at IFAWET-5, hosted by UPES
4government bodies and national institutions UPES works with on water
UPES draws groundwater in line with Central Ground Water Authority guidelines.
The Department of Science and Technology funds the UPES microalgae wastewater reclamation plant.
Partners in government
Central Ground Water Authority. UPES draws groundwater in line with Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) guidelines, and its Technical Services department ensures compliance with CGWA requirements. Source: Borewells, rainwater harvesting and water reuse at UPES.
Jal Jeevan Mission. UPES students support the national drinking water mission through work on wells and ponds with local partners. Source: Srijan Social Internship.
Department of Science and Technology. The Government of India's Department of Science and Technology funds the microalgae wastewater reclamation plant built with the NGO Vikalp Nai Dishayen.
National Institute of Hydrology and IIT Roorkee. UPES works with national water research institutions on water security. From 6 to 8 August 2025, UPES hosted the 5th International Forum on Asian Water Environment Technology (IFAWET-5) with the University of Tokyo, Tecnológico de Monterrey, the National Institute of Hydrology and IIT Roorkee, with participants from 12 countries. At Himalaya Calling 2025, opened by the Governor of Uttarakhand, engineers, scientists and local practitioners discussed nature-based solutions for Himalayan rivers.
Delegates at IFAWET-5, hosted by UPES in August 2025.
This section covers the indicator on cooperation with government on water security.
Events and activities
Four events from UPES schools, departments and student groups support this goal.
Runway Incubator and DSO · 11 August 2026
Become a Community Problem Solver
Runway Incubator and the Department of Social Outreach ran a problem-solving programme for 155 students of classes 9 to 12 at Government Inter College, Paundha, Dehradun. Water conservation and smart water use was one of five community challenges the students worked on (event report[14]).
Talks by the Vice Chancellor and Padma Bhushan environmentalist Dr Anil Prakash Joshi, including UPES's switch from RO systems to UV-treated water to save water.
Goal 6 has eight targets agreed by the United Nations for 2030. UPES contributes to all eight through its campus operations, research and work with communities and government.
Impact
UPES activity reaches every Goal 6 target, with the deepest and most measurable impact on safe drinking water, water quality, water efficiency and community participation.
8 of 8UN targets under Goal 6 that UPES contributes to
4targets with sustained programmes and measurable results
Where we make the biggest difference
Targets where UPES runs sustained programmes or operations with measurable results.
6.1
UN target 6.1Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Wastewater Treatment: Superior Adsorbent Materials for the Removal of Hazardous Pollutantshttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c07719
These documents support the evidence in this report.
UPES water and waste management report (PDF). Evidence for water treatment plants and UV filtration, six bore wells, rainwater harvesting, reuse of treated water, five waste streams and authorised disposal.
