SDG 14.2Keeping pollution out of the water
UPES treats and reuses its wastewater and cuts plastic so that less pollution reaches rivers and, eventually, the sea.
0wastewater discharged off campus
550 KLPDwater recycling capacity
250 KLrecycled water used in horticulture
- Zero water discharge. UPES describes itself as a zero water discharge campus, treating and recycling its wastewater on site with 550 kilolitres a day of recycling capacity.
- Rainwater. The sustainability policy commits UPES to rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling.
- Less plastic. During Swachhta Pakhwara, NSS volunteers ran a "Say No to Single Use Plastic" campaign and "Best out of Waste" competitions, and the university works to reduce plastic use and segregate waste.
Policy
The UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy (2025) commits the university to:
- Safe wastewater. Treating and safely disposing of wastewater, recycling it and discharging only responsibly, and preventing contamination of natural water sources (§5.2, §5.3.2).
- Saving water. Rainwater harvesting, water-efficient fixtures and regular monitoring and maintenance of water supply systems (§5.2).
- Cutting waste at source. Reduce, reuse and recycle, segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, composting, and a plastic-free, clean campus (§5.3.1, §5.4).
- Hazardous electronics. Collecting e-waste and disposing of it through certified recyclers (§5.3.3).
The policy also provides for regular monitoring of resource use and environmental performance, with periodic reporting.