25% of the world’s population, or 1.8 billion people, do not have access to clean water and 33% or 1.8 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation. This goal aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Bore wells are employed on the campus for the ground water abstraction, this ground water is then fed into the pump rooms
We measure the total volume of water used in the university that is taken through the ground water abstraction process, using bore wells on the campus. The volume of water used in the whole university was 439521 m3 in the reporting year 2022-23.
7 sewage treatment plants have been installed to treat wastewater.
Sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from domestic wastewater, containing mainly sewage plus some wastewater. Physical, chemical, and biological processes are used to remove contaminants and produce treated wastewater that is safe enough for irrigation purposes.
The water released after use in hostel washrooms, kitchens and residential areas becomes grey water or waste water. This wastewater is then fed to the sewage treatment plants to undergo various physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove contaminants and produce treated wastewater that is safe enough for horticulture and irrigation purposes.
Treated sewage is utilised within the premises for gardening, sprinkling, floor washing, dust suppression, truck washing, etc. No water is discharged outside the university.
All boreholes/borewells are protected carefully to prevent polluted water from entering the water system.
As part of JGU’s commitment to the overall well being of members of the JGU community that includes all students, faculty and staff members, water samples taken from the Student Housing Blocks and the Food Court are regularly sent for testing to an accredited ISO 45001-2018 laboratory certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The results meet the quality standards and are within the parameters set by the Indian Standards for Drinking Water as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Specifications for Potable Water (IS – 10500-2012). Therefore, drinking water at the JGU campus is safe and is good for drinking as it meets the quality standards.
We are committed to reducing our water consumption year on year through community awareness initiatives and investment towards efficient building standards.
There are more than 220 water fountains and water coolers installed across the campus. The free drinking water is available for all staff members, students and visitors.
As part of JGU’s commitment to the overall well being of members of the JGU community that includes all students, faculty and staff members, water samples taken from each building across the campus are regularly sent for testing to an accredited ISO 45001-2018 laboratory certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The results meet the quality standards and are within the parameters set by the Indian Standards for Drinking Water as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Specifications for Potable Water (IS – 10500-2012). Therefore, drinking water at the JGU campus is safe and is good for drinking as it meets the quality standards.
Preventive measures
Standards for water conservation:
Water reuse measures
There are 132966 species of shrubs and trees on the campus. JGU prioritises water-conscious planting. Only treated wastewater is used for plants and no fresh water or domestic water is used.
Plant species on campus that consume less water:
Mitragyana parviflora (Kadamb)
Bauhinia purpuria
Erythreena indica
Ficus infectoria
Dalbergia sisso
Terminalia arjuna
Cassia siamea
7 sewage treatment plants have been installed to treat wastewater.
The water released after use in hostel washrooms, kitchens and residential areas becomes grey water or waste water. This wastewater is then fed to the sewage treatment plants to undergo various physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove contaminants and
produce treated wastewater that is safe enough for horticulture and irrigation purposes.
The STP treated water is used in cooling towers, supplied to use in horticulture and irrigation and in flushing activities. Wastewater post treatment is reutilized in all these activities which otherwise will call for freshwater utilisation, hence it conserves a large amount of freshwater.
Hot water recirculation pumps prevent the draining of cold water during winters as hot water lines are regularly under circulation mode and hot water is always available to use.
STP treated water is used for curing purposes, water sprinkling and truck tyre washing during construction activities.
Rainwater harvesting pits have been developed on campus to harvest rainwater and recharge the groundwater reservoir table.
Water reused in the campus is measured via flow metres.
We have a policy to maximise water reuse across the university. Our design and operations teams are committed to planning and organising their activities in the most efficient and sustainable manner feasible.
The water released after use in hostel washrooms, kitchens and residential areas becomes grey water or waste water. This wastewater is then fed to the sewage treatment plants to undergo various physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove contaminants and
produce treated wastewater that is safe enough for horticulture and irrigation purposes.
The STP treated water is used in cooling towers, supplied to use in horticulture and irrigation and in flushing activities. Wastewater post treatment is reutilized in all these activities which otherwise will call for freshwater utilisation, hence it conserves a large amount of freshwater.
STP treated water is used for curing purposes, water sprinkling and truck tyre washing during construction activities. Treated sewage is also utilised within the premises for gardening, sprinkling, floor washing, dust suppression, truck washing, etc.
No water is discharged outside the university after use, which means that 100% of the water consumed is being reused.
As water is a scarce resource, we reuse water through Sewage Treatment Plants in the campus. JGU carries out ground water extraction via bore wells. 100% of the water consumed in campus activities is being reused through the treatment of wastewater. The STP treated water is used in cooling towers, supplied to use in horticulture and irrigation and in flushing activities. Wastewater post treatment is reutilized in all these activities which otherwise will call for freshwater utilisation, hence it conserves a large amount of freshwater.
Hot water recirculation pumps prevent the draining of cold water during winters as hot water lines are regularly under circulation mode and hot water is always available to use.
Rainwater harvesting pits have been developed on campus to harvest rainwater and recharge the groundwater reservoir table.
Oorja newsletter by The Final Stand
The Final Stand (TFS) is a student-run climate change advocacy, law, and policy initiative in JGU under the mentorship of Justice Michael D. Wilson of the Hawaii Supreme Court.
Oorja is a monthly newsletter designed to share updates on climate change, the environment, and The Final Stand community. It covers the latest news on climate change and provides specially curated interesting reads, books, podcasts, movie recommendations and more for the curious changemaker.
The latest issue of Oorja talks about:
Seminar to discuss ‘Can technology help avoid water wars?’
Digital art competition to highlight water conservation
Course Title: Water, Sanitation and Health
Instructor: Prof. (Dr.) Neelu Anand Jha
Programme/Semester: JSES Fall 2024
Field visits and community engagement with:
Course Description: Water, sanitation, and health issues are complex problems of modern society, particularly in the Global South. These issues are part of the daily lives of people living in big cities, peri urban slums, or rural communities of developing countries. The current water and sanitation problems are responsible for millions of deaths yearly, which can be avoided through proper scientific practices and policy interventions. Women and children are particularly vulnerable groups. This course is a field-based tutorial and community engagement module that aims to develop the skills necessary to understand the magnitude of current conditions and trends in water, sanitation, and health services. This is an essential step before addressing and formulating policy interventions. The students will gain field experience and be trained to diagnose problems using questionnaires and surveys. The aim is to make the students engage with the community and gain firsthand experience of how people receive their water and sanitation services and how they impact their health. This course module will develop a basic understanding of neighbouring urban and rural communities’ water, sanitation, and health services.
JGU has multiple research centres that support the SDGs, including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Through our research, teaching, conferences, community engagement and partnerships, we address the topic of water conservation and links with climate change.
JSES conducts field-visits and community engagement workshops for B.A. (Hons.) Environment and Sustainable Development students. The field visits and community engagement programs focused on ‘local community participation’ activities wherein the students get a chance to interact with the local communities in the villages/schools/health centres/slums, etc. and understand their problems related to water, health and hygiene. The students discussed the different problems of water, health and hygiene and their possible solutions with different stakeholders including the local government representatives, nominated officials, health representatives, the general public, etc. As a part of the course and in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4 and 6) “Clean Water and Sanitation”, the 2nd year students also organised a Community Engagement Workshop on “Water, sanitation, Health and Education: SDGs Learning and Training”.
JGU Vice Chancellor at ACUNS meet in Tokyo
The Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, addressed the prestigious Annual Meeting of the Academic Council of the United Nations System (ACUNS) held in Japan during June 20-21 and delivered the keynote speech.
In his speech titled ‘The Role of Universities in the Global South for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, Dr. Raj Kumar outlined how critical it was to achieve the ambitious Agenda 2030 in the remaining six years and how important it is for all stakeholders, governments and corporations to undertake strategic policies and actions to contribute directly to the fulfilment of the SDGs and solve pressing global issues. “It is essential that knowledge production and distribution, innovation, cutting-edge research, interactive learning, and capacity building are enhanced for human development and universities and other higher education institutions can be a key platform to realise the fruitful conclusion of these important and demanding tasks,” he said.
He said: “Universities in India and the Global South can contribute to the achievement of all the 17 SDGs in 10 main points. The primary role of universities is to empower students to become changemakers by embedding relevant themes and challenges within the curricula while focusing on experiential learning, clinical programmes, capstone projects, and community level engagement. To break the vicious cycle of poverty, it is essential to provide financial aid and scholarships, promote philanthropy, and provide policy recommendations to the government to invest in public education. To ensure equality for all, institutions have the dual responsibility to be microcosms of equal opportunity, fair practice, and an inclusive centre of learning as well as workplace. Universities contribute to achieving the goal of good health and well-being through generation of knowledge and scholarship on healthcare, and raising awareness through community engagement.
“Furthermore, to take action towards preservation of life on earth and climate change, universities should invest in research on environment and engage with indigenous cultures about sustainable practices, and act as change agents by reducing carbon footprint and creating sanctuaries within campuses for biodiversity preservation. Universities can nurture individual consciousness towards sustainability through curriculum, research agendas, sustainable infrastructure, campus engagement, public institutional engagement, and institutional environmental footprint. To work towards the goal of clean water and food security, universities must utilise their maximum potential to positively impact public policy, and improve water management and food security practices within their own premises. For sustainable economic growth of people and industries, universities need to design dynamic curriculum relevant to market changes, collaborate with industries, and act as incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship. To advocate for peace and justice, educational centres must uphold academic freedom and objectively portray diverse perspectives and truths without external interference or censorship to inculcate awareness within the social and political psyche of people. To work towards partnership, especially South-South cooperation, universities can create consortiums, research networks, address common challenges, promote cultural exchange, and influence policy change,” Professor (Dr.) Kumar said.