Water Reuse

(Reviewd: 2022)

LPU is committed through a comprehensive Water Reuse Policy that aligns with SDG 6. The university has implemented a sophisticated wastewater management system that distinguishes between greywater and black water, maximizing water recycling and minimizing environmental impact. Greywater from sources like sinks, showers, and laundry is treated and reused for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing, significantly reducing reliance on potable water. Meanwhile, black water undergoes rigorous treatment to meet effluent discharge standards, ensuring safe release into the environment and protecting local ecosystems. LPU’s flexible approach incorporates both conventional and advanced wastewater treatment technologies, achieving efficient, energy-effective waste management that moves towards zero liquid discharge.

The university’s Water Reuse Policy outlines its structured approach to water conservation and responsible usage across campus. Key elements of this policy include:

  • Wastewater Treatment & Reuse: Three STPs with a total capacity of 5 MLD treat wastewater for reuse in irrigation, horticulture, toilet flushing, and cooling systems. Smaller STPs serve the main playgrounds and agricultural areas, expanding LPU’s water management capacity.
  • Dedicated Infrastructure: A 9-inch pipeline extending over a kilometer distributes treated water efficiently for campus irrigation and toilet flushing, significantly reducing potable water use.
  • Sludge Utilization: Sludge from the treatment plants is repurposed as organic manure for landscaping, reducing waste and promoting sustainable soil health.
  • Rainwater Harvesting: With 39 rainwater recharge wells and a dedicated surface runoff collection system, LPU recharges groundwater to offset water usage. Campus roads and terraces are designed to capture rainwater for this purpose.
  • Water Conservation Technologies: Automated sprinklers, high-capacity RO systems, digital water meters, and water-efficient fixtures optimize water usage and track consumption.
  • Future Goals: Plans include adding more STPs and expanding groundwater recharge efforts to enhance the sustainability of water resources on campus.
  • Fire Safety Service: LPU operates a 24/7 fire hazard prevention and response facility to ensure campus and community safety, underscoring its commitment to resilient community support.
  • Through these initiatives, LPU actively measures water reuse, reducing dependency on freshwater and promoting environmental stewardship across campus and surrounding areas.

Guidelines on water use and its discharge in campus

(Reviewd: 2022)

INTRODUCTION

Water is a blessing for human life and natural water resources are being exhausted to meet its increasing requirement since it doesn’t have a substitute. Therefore, recycling or reuse of water is important for sustainable development and to ensure the availability of clean water to future generations

Lovely Professional University thus has contributed in various ways and numerous efforts by initiating integrated efforts to ensure adequate infrastructure, processes and guidelines, in line with Government, for providing the sufficient and sustainable water facilities within Campus. Comprehensive and continuous efforts are made by the University to facilitate safe and affordable drinking water. In addition, efforts for the treatment of waste water produced in Campus and maximization its use also been made.

SCOPE

The scope of these guidelines is to provide a roadmap and guidelines with background and a broad conceptual framework for planning/implementing strategies for sustainable development that includes water management, conservation of water, water security and educational programs for increasing awareness.

OBJECTIVES

  • To maximize the judicious use of water in the campus.
  • To increase the awareness among campus population and nearby localities for the sustainable use and reuse/recycle of water
  • To ensure the 24 X 7 availability of free and clean drinking water to all inside the campus.
  • To ensure the sewage treatment as per the prevailing norms.
  • To contribute towards upliftment of ground water table level.
  • To establish and maintain water quality standards through pretreatment before it discharge that safeguard the ecological integrity of the water bodies.

GUIDELINES ON WATER USE ON CAMPUS

University must make dedicated efforts towards the provision of fresh water facilities as well as the treatment of water. For achieving clean water and sanitation, the University must introduce various processes and policies such as:+

4.1 Access to Free and Clean Water

  • University must provide clean and free drinking water facility to the entire Campus population.
  • There must be routine water audits and water quality checks from accredited or certified agency, to ensure the quality of water.
  • The water filters must be cleaned/serviced regularly to ensure the un-interrupted supply of clean and safe water, from certified service providers.
  • To ensure the minimum wastage of clean water, the automatic sensor-based urinal pot, semi-automatic minimum water usage push button taps, two button toilet flush water tanks, water saving spray jet nozzles etc. must be installed in Campus.
  • The volume of water extracted from underground, aquifers, lakes, or any natural water body, for this purpose, must be recorded using water meters across whole University.
  • For ensuring the adequate supply of clean water, University must organize awareness programs, seminars, workshops, plays campaigns etc. must be organized from time to time both within and outside the University campus, focusing on key indicators of clean water, water reuse, water security and management.
  • University should emphasize the importance of conservation of water, water management, by implementing these strategies in the curriculum and daily activities of the university for sustainable development.
  • University must ensure the proper utilization of overhead tanks for storing water and using it for drip irrigation, horticulture and agriculture.
  • University must contribute towards the global mission of “Clean Water” by co- operating with local, regional, national or international bodies/NGOs/Governmental agencies, etc. to work on water security.
  • A separate water treatment plant (Reverse Osmosis plant) can be installed for each block for supply of purified water.
  • All the waste discharge from university must be pretreated to remove any hazardous and toxic material before discharge to environmental bodies. The treated water can be tested timely to ensure the quality of water being discharge and meet the prescribed standards before its discharge.

4.2 Treatment of Waste water

  • Adequate number of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) must be installed at various location inside the Campus to treat the waste water.
  • University will direct its efforts to optimize the capacity of the STPs for treating the waste water.
  • University must focus on utilization of treated water for flushing the toilets.
  • The waste water produced in the Campus must be disposed-off to the surroundings only after pretreatment of the same. This must be as per the Punjab Pollution Control Board and/or Central Pollution Control Board guidelines to protect human health and healthy ecosystems (both aquatic i.
    e. freshwater as well as marine restrial ecosystems).
  • The treated water can be used for irrigation purposes, toilet cleaning, etc. and must take efforts to use gray water.
  • The waste water expected to be rich in microbial content must be disposed-off after pretreatment as per Bio Medical Waste Management guidelines laid down by Govt. of India.
  • The quality of treated water must also be examined on a timely basis to ensure the proper functioning of Sewage Treatment Plants.
  • The sewage treated water can be used for irrigation of trees, using The Karnal Technology.
  • University must ensure that the discharge water may not affect the aquatic ecosystem.

4.3 Rain water harvesting

  • University must provide rain-water harvesting bores within the Campus to ensure the recycling of rain water and contribute towards sustainable development.
  • The volume of rain water harvested must be measured using water meters and the consequent effect of ground water recharging must be monitored.
  • University must ensure the prevention of polluted water, harmful water or any polluted water from accidents and incidents in surroundings/University to clean water and must take steps in this direction.
  • The collection of rain water must be collected through surface runoff collection from terraces that is connected to a rainwater recharge well by a pipe line.
  • Ensure the discharged rainwater does not pose health or safety risks to the public, environment and water bodies.

4.4 Other Initiatives
University must take following initiatives for the water use with in the campus:

  • Implement building standards to minimize water usage and maximize water reuse. The quantity of reused water must be recorded.
  • Implement water conservation method like drip irrigation, leakage repairs, and condensate recovery.
  • Implementation of water recycling techniques including dissolved air flotation, biological treatment, granular activated carbon, softening, disinfection, deionization and filtration etc.
  • Initiate plantation such that the plants (Drought resistant plants) require lesser water for growth and sustenance.
  • Initiate in-designing of the campus roads with saucer drain section to collect water from the road network and from the paver’s walkways.
  • Initiate by installing solar water pumps to run the water pumping system in the campus.
  • Implementation of water filling in overhead water tanks with a time-controlled pumping system at individual campus buildings.
  • University must carry out collaborative research to address issues on aquatic (freshwater and marine) ecosystem.
  • Compliance with government guidelines for the water discharge to protect the ecosystem.
  • Ensure the 24 x 7 supply of quality potable water.
  • In order to minimize water usage, students are encouraged to use buckets instead of showers.
  • University increase vegetation cover in order to prevent top soil erosion.
  • Prioritize source reduction, recycling, and treatment before water discharge.
  • Avoid discharging near sensitive ecosystems, wetlands, or water bodies with fragile habitats.

These guidelines must be reviewed periodically considering the data stats and analysis to overcome the system lags and ensure the sustainable supply of clean water.