Hyderabad, Mar 16th: KL Deemed to be University (Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation—KLEF) is proud to announce that the University has been honored with the prestigious “Leading Wastewater Treatment and Management Model Award” by the India Water Foundation (IWF) in recognition of its pioneering and technology-driven water sustainability initiatives.
The recognition was announced as part of the Water Transversality Global Awards and Conclave 2026, organized by the India Water Foundation. The award was presented to Commander Gurumoorthy Gangadharan, Senior Director—Planning & Development, KLEF, by Shri Om Birla, Honorable Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, during the summit’s prize distribution ceremony in New Delhi.
The award acknowledges KLEF’s institution-wide commitment to sustainable water management through an integrated and technology-enabled approach. The University has implemented a comprehensive 4R framework—Reduce, Recharge, Recycle, and Reuse—enabling efficient utilization of water resources across its campus.
At the core of this initiative is a 2,180 KLD wastewater recycling system, which currently meets over 54 percent of its Vijayawada campus’s water demand. The system is supported by advanced sewage treatment technologies, including Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) and ARBiT, which have enhanced water recovery efficiency from 53 percent to 74 percent.
The campus also operates 32 rainwater harvesting pits, with a groundwater recharge capacity of nearly 3.7 lakh liters per day, significantly strengthening long-term water sustainability. These initiatives, combined with real-time water monitoring and efficient irrigation practices, have led to a 54 percent reduction in building water consumption and 42 percent savings in landscape irrigation, while maintaining a green campus covering more than 10.6 lakh square feet.
Commenting on the recognition, Er. Koneru Satyanarayana, Chancellor, KL Deemed to be University, stated, “Sustainability today is a collective responsibility that extends far beyond institutional boundaries. We believe that responsible water management must become an integral part of how societies grow, innovate, and build resilience for the future. Through research, technology adoption, and responsible practices, we aim to demonstrate how academic institutions can contribute meaningfully to global sustainability goals and inspire wider environmental stewardship.”
The Department of Planning & Development, together with faculty members and staff across the University, plays an active role in advancing the institution’s sustainability and environmental stewardship initiatives. KLEF had earlier received accolades from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Water Digest, CII–SR, and AICTE, and was recently recognized in the Water Stewardship category at the CII–SR Industrial Climate Action Competition, where it was evaluated alongside leading organizations.
