Sustainable Water Management & Pollution Prevention 2024

In line with its Sustainable Campus Policy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is dedicated to sustainable water management, focusing on wastewater treatment, pollution prevention, and water reuse. The university is committed to re-using 80% of its water through advanced treatment mechanisms. The campus has transitioned to a zero-pit toilet system, with high-quality effluent treatment and regular groundwater testing. Additional efforts include water quality monitoring, stormwater management, rainwater harvesting, and educational programs. 

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is committed to sustainable water management, particularly in wastewater treatment and pollution prevention. The university operates several Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 1400 cubic meters per day, utilizing aerobic treatment methods and activated sludge mechanisms. Over the past three years, these plants have treated approximately 1,300 cubic meters of sewage water per day, which is then recycled for toilet flushing, arboriculture, and gardening, significantly contributing to freshwater conservation and maintaining a green environment on campus.

The treated water is rich in nutrients, providing essential micronutrients and organic carbon (NPK) to promote plant and crop growth. A new, advanced 4000 cubic meter per day capacity STP (STP-IV) is planned for construction in the academic year 2025-26.

Amrita has transitioned to a zero pit toilet campus, where all the waste is now connected to a comprehensive waste treatment system. This system is designed to effectively treat wastewater, with the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of the treated water reaching as low as 3, indicating high-quality effluent. 

In addition to the waste treatment improvements, the university has implemented a separate pump system for efficient wastewater management. This system ensures proper segregation and treatment of different types of waste. To guarantee that the treated water does not cause contamination, groundwater testing is regularly conducted. Both in-house and external agencies carry out these tests to ensure there is no leakage into the environment, preserving the integrity of the campus’s water supply.

To further enhance water management, a periodic inspection syste checks water pipelines, coolers, tanks, storage units, taps, and other equipment for leaks and maintenance needs. This system ensures that potential issues are identified early, minimizing disruptions in the water supply. Additionally, the Water Department has introduced a log card system to document and track these inspections, ensuring accountability and the timely completion of maintenance activities.

In addition to wastewater treatment, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has implemented several measures to prevent water pollution:

• Regular Water Quality Monitoring: A dedicated team regularly tests water quality at all points of entry to the university’s water system, detecting pollutants such as bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals.

• Spill Prevention and Response: As per the guidelines of the Sustainable Campus Policy, the university has a spill prevention and response plan to deal with accidental spills of pollutants, including procedures for identifying, containing, cleaning up spills, and disposing of contaminated materials safely.
• Stormwater Management Systems: Designed to collect and filter stormwater runoff before it enters the water system, these systems help remove pollutants such as oil, grease, and sediment. 
• Rainwater Harvesting: A system that collects rainwater from building roofs and stores it in underground tanks for use in irrigation and other non-potable purposes.
• Grease Traps in Kitchens: Installed to trap grease and oil from kitchen wastewater before it enters the sewer system, preventing these pollutants from entering the water system and clogging pipes.
• Educational Programs: Initiatives to educate staff and students about pollution prevention, covering proper waste disposal, water conservation, and spill prevention.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has actively pursued a robust pollution prevention program aimed at protecting water quality and fostering environmental stewardship among staff and students. The program encompasses water quality monitoring, wastewater treatment, spill prevention and response, and awareness campaigns. This report highlights key activities and progress achieved in implementing pollution prevention strategies during the period in 2024.

Achievements:

• Successfully marked all underground services with standard-compliant marking tapes.
• Installed adhesive pipe markers on above-ground pipeworks, meeting the 5-meter interval requirement. Flow direction and pipe contents are clearly indicated.

Ongoing Efforts:

• Routine inspections to ensure compliance with labelling standards.
• Plans for expanding coverage to newly added infrastructure.

Achievements:

• All critical equipment now features asset labels and barcodes aligned with the university’s Asset Identification and Labelling Standard.
• Improved inventory tracking and maintenance scheduling as a result of effective asset labelling.

Ongoing Efforts

• Integration of barcode data into a centralized database is still in progress.

Achievements:

• Comprehensive surveys and documentation of all subsurface utility installations conducted as per Quality Level–Classification of Subsurface Utility Information (SUI).
• Implementation of the CIS Standard Permit to Dig process for all underground works.

Ongoing Efforts:

• CCTV recordings of below-ground sewer and stormwater systems completed for older and newly installed infrastructure.

Achievements:

• Proper insulation and expansion accommodations applied to all pipework chased into masonry walls, preventing structural damage.
• Adhesive markers installed consistently across all above-ground pipelines.

Ongoing Efforts

• Periodic audits to ensure ongoing compliance with installation and labelling standards.

Achievements:

• Compliance with spacing requirements for pipe brackets, clips, and hangers has been ensured.
• Separate supports installed for valves in pipeworks of 200mm or greater diameter.

Achievements:

• Structural engineering approval obtained for all cored holes in structural elements.
• Fire-rated pipe penetrations installed to meet statutory requirements.
• Copper sleeves provided for pipework passing through masonry and concrete structures.

Achievements:

• All exposed surfaces and equipment have been treated with corrosion-resistant finishes, including hot-dip galvanizing for ferrous metals.
• Regular maintenance programs established to monitor and address signs of corrosion.

Outcome:

• Enhanced longevity of infrastructure and reduced maintenance costs.

Achievements:

• Hydraulic systems certified to meet the acoustic requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC).
• Qualified Acoustic Engineers conducted assessments and provided necessary treatments to achieve compliance.

• Contractor & staff induction: 2024 strengthened EHS induction modules for contractors and operational staff with specific modules for spill response, stormwater protection and chemical handling. 
• Student & staff awareness: Campaigns and training sessions on responsible disposal, water conservation, and reporting were run across campuses; sustainable event guidance rolled out to student unions and administrative units. 
• Research & collaboration: Amrita’s environmental research groups collaborated with operations to trial precision erosion mapping and targeted remediation techniques. 

1. Complete central integration of asset barcodes into the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to enable predictive maintenance and faster incident response. 
2. Scale ecological monitoring: expand the 2024 pilot of ecological water-body monitoring to a full programme across sensitive water bodies, with fixed monitoring locations, biological and physico-chemical parameters, and seasonal sampling protocols. 
3. Expand stormwater treatment at scale: increase use of bioswales, constructed wetlands and infiltration basins during new landscape projects and retrofits. 
4. Full implementation of advanced STP expansion aligned to campus growth to guarantee treatment capacity and maintain reuse targets. 
5. Zero-plastic events target: move toward zero single-use plastic for official campus events via supplier contracts and event permitting. 
6. Continued contractor oversight: refine contractor performance KPIs tied to environmental outcomes (sediment control, spill incidents, compliance with CSEMP commitments).