SDG 6 | CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
[6.3] Water usage and care
[6.3.4] Water-conscious building standards
1. Executive Summary
Water-Efficient Buildings initiatives at PTUK aim to reduce water use in campus facilities while maintaining operational efficiency. This aligns with SDG6 by promoting sustainable consumption and reducing strain on local water resources. Activities include installing low-flow fixtures, automated irrigation systems, water recycling, and leak detection programs. Students participate in audits, monitoring, and optimization projects. Outputs include reduced water use, research reports, and educational materials. Additional activities include integrating water efficiency designs into new buildings and retrofitting older structures.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
2. Water-conscious building standards – Activities
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01. Low-Flow Fixtures Installation
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PTUK has encouraged the use of water-saving fixtures (such as low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, and waterless urinals) across campus buildings to minimize daily water consumption. It has been actively involved in replacing old taps, showers, and toilets with new ones which use less water. Electronic taps are used, which means that the water does not come on unless the hands are under the tap. These taps have proved to save a lot of water. Similarly, toilets which dispense less water when flushed are used. PTUK also recently employed plumbers, which shortened the time needed to fix water leaks. Installation of water-saving taps, showers, and toilets in campus buildings for students and technical staff reduces consumption and operational costs. This supports conserving water resources. |
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02. Automated Irrigation Systems
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PTUK teaches and pilots water-efficient irrigation, reuse of treated water, and agricultural water-productivity improvements that reduce freshwater withdrawals and encourage circular resource use in agriculture and campus operations. Research on adaptation measures (drought management, efficient irrigation) strengthens local adaptation capacity and mitigation planning for water systems under climate change. Smart irrigation for campus landscaping optimizes water use, thus reducing water consumption, while data for analysis and student learning are collected. This contributes to promoting efficient water use. |
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03. Building Water Audit Program
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PTUK contributes technical evidence (groundwater studies, monitoring data) that informs water governance, cross-institutional planning, and municipal water policy. This strengthens institutional decision-making and transparency in the water sector. PTUK participates in international programs (Erasmus WaSec, PERA partnerships), donor projects, and multi-stakeholder research collaborations that mobilize funding, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange for water management on campus. The installation of new digital meters helps keep the amount of water under control and informs the university of water waste. Assessing water use in campus buildings and recommending improvements through audit reports, recommendations, and student engagement helps identify efficiency measures. |
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04. Retrofitting Older Buildings
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PTUK developed a list of technical standards to ensure reduced water consumption through the adoption of best practices. These include:
All these steps are currently being carried out in all new buildings, while old buildings are maintained and old systems are replaced by new systems when necessary. Integration of water-saving technologies in existing facilities reduces consumption and introduces students to new experiences. This contributes to improving overall water efficiency. |
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