SDG 6. Clean Water And Sanitation

Clean Water and Sanitation

Commitment to Water Sustainability

Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA) recognises that clean water and proper sanitation are essential to sustainable urban life, public health, and environmental resilience. As a leading technical and environmental university, KNUCA integrates water sustainability into its teaching, research, infrastructure management, and community engagement. The university aligns its policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 and the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 methodology, ensuring that all water-related initiatives are measurable, evidence-based, and publicly accessible.

KNUCA’s mission is to guarantee safe drinking water access, efficient sanitation systems, and responsible water management across its campuses and surrounding communities. The university has developed a comprehensive Water and Sanitation Policy that includes water quality monitoring, leak detection, greywater reuse, wastewater treatment, and community training in eco-sanitation practices. All projects are implemented in accordance with the national environmental strategy and the EU Water Framework Directive.

Research on Water and Sanitation

Research is central to KNUCA’s contribution to SDG 6. The university’s scientific community conducts multidisciplinary projects on water management, hydrology, wastewater treatment technologies, and pollution control. Over the past five years (2020–2024), KNUCA has published numerous Scopus-indexed papers within the Elsevier SDG 6 keyword set: clean water; wastewater treatment; water reuse; rainwater harvesting; water pollution; aquatic ecosystems; microplastics; hydrology; drinking water quality; waterborne diseases. Research topics include precision irrigation systems, eco-sanitation solutions, desalination methods, and low-energy water purification using nanomaterials.

International collaborations connect KNUCA with European and Asian universities in projects on sustainable urban water cycles, stormwater management, and resilient infrastructure. The university participates in joint research initiatives within the EU Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ frameworks, sharing expertise on sustainable water infrastructure, hydraulic engineering, and climate adaptation.

Campus Water Management and Efficiency

KNUCA has introduced a comprehensive system for monitoring and reducing water consumption on campus. All academic and residential buildings are equipped with smart water meters connected to a central database that allows tracking the water footprint per building and per person. Annual data show a steady reduction in water use by up to 12 % compared to the 2020 baseline. Rainwater harvesting systems collect roof runoff for technical uses and landscape irrigation, reducing dependence on municipal supply.

The university has implemented leak detection technology, modernised water supply networks, and introduced low-flow fixtures in laboratories and dormitories. Greywater is treated and reused for sanitary and technical purposes through filtration and ultraviolet disinfection units. These measures not only reduce water consumption but also minimise wastewater volumes and associated energy use in pumping and treatment processes.

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Systems

The KNUCA campus is equipped with a modern pilot plant for wastewater treatment research and education. The system includes biological treatment modules, activated sludge processes, membrane filtration, and constructed wetlands that simulate natural water purification. This facility serves both as an educational laboratory and as a demonstration project for sustainable wastewater management.

Treated water is reused for toilet flushing, floor cleaning, and green area maintenance, achieving a recycling rate of about 40 %. Sludge generated by the treatment plant is dehydrated and used in research on biogas generation and fertiliser production. These initiatives illustrate KNUCA’s practical approach to circular water economy and support SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.

Access to Drinking Water and Sanitation

Ensuring safe and affordable drinking water is a fundamental priority for KNUCA. All campus facilities have public drinking fountains, bottle refill points, and water dispensers tested regularly for microbiological and chemical quality. Annual water quality reports are published online to ensure transparency and public access to information.

Sanitation facilities meet the highest health and hygiene standards. The university has implemented gender-inclusive restrooms and facilities accessible to people with disabilities. Regular maintenance, hygiene audits, and the use of eco-friendly cleaning agents guarantee safe and sustainable sanitation across all buildings. Awareness campaigns on hand hygiene, waste segregation, and water saving are conducted each semester in cooperation with student organisations and the public health faculty.

Education, Training, and Student Involvement

Water sustainability is embedded into academic curricula at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Courses on hydraulic engineering, environmental protection technology, urban ecology, and climate adaptation include modules on water resource management, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment design. Students participate in research projects on water pollution monitoring and design of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

The university organises workshops and trainings on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), eco-sanitation, and stormwater management for local communities and municipal engineers. In 2024 alone, more than 25 educational events were held, including the annual Clean Rivers Forum, student competitions on water saving innovation, and awareness campaigns for school students.

Community and International Engagement

KNUCA’s Water Sustainability Centre works closely with Kyiv City Council, Brest Metropole, and other European partners to share best practices in urban water management. Joint initiatives include the rehabilitation of urban rivers, development of storm drain control systems, and public education programmes on water conservation. KNUCA researchers also advise local authorities on integrated water resource planning, flood risk reduction, and infrastructure resilience.

Community engagement programmes encourage students to participate in river clean-up drives, tree-planting activities, and citizen science monitoring of water quality in the Dnipro basin. These activities not only improve local ecosystems but also strengthen environmental awareness and social responsibility among the university community.

Policies and Governance

The institutional Water and Sanitation Policy defines the framework for managing freshwater resources, reducing pollution, and ensuring transparency. Key principles include sustainable water procurement, environmental risk assessment, energy-efficient pumping systems, and compliance with Ukrainian and EU regulations. The policy requires annual monitoring of water consumption and wastewater treatment outcomes, public reporting of results, and continuous improvement through innovation.

KNUCA also implements a Green Procurement Policy, prioritising suppliers of eco-friendly water technologies, low-chemical cleaning agents, and energy-efficient equipment. Procurement criteria favour local manufacturers to support regional sustainability and reduce transport-related emissions. Together these policies strengthen compliance with THE Impact Ratings criteria (Existence + Evidence + Public Access) and SDG targets 6.3–6.6.

Public Reporting and Transparency

KNUCA publishes an annual Sustainability Report that includes data on water usage, recycling rates, and sanitation standards. Indicators are verified through internal audits and external review by partners in environmental monitoring. Water data are disaggregated by campus, building type, and student/staff population to calculate per-capita consumption and efficiency levels. All figures are made public through the official SDG portal sdg.knuba.edu.ua.

Transparency and evidence accessibility are key principles of KNUCA’s reporting practice. All documents are maintained online throughout the evaluation cycle, meeting THE Impact Ratings requirements for public evidence availability. KNUCA’s Water Sustainability Dashboard provides interactive graphs and open data on water consumption trends, wastewater treatment volumes, and efficiency improvements.

Partnerships and Future Goals

The university plans to expand its partnerships with international organisations and research networks focusing on water security, climate adaptation, and urban resilience. Key future goals include:

• Reducing overall water use by 20 % by 2030 compared with 2020 levels;
  
  
• Achieving 100 % reuse of treated greywater in technical applications;
  
  
• Implementing real-time water quality monitoring using IoT sensors;
  
  
• Publishing open datasets for citizen access and research;
  
  
• Developing joint Master’s and PhD programmes in Water Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure with European universities.
  
  

Through these actions, KNUCA will continue to promote a sustainable urban environment, foster innovation in water technologies, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 6 across Ukraine and beyond.

Summary and Impact

KNUCA’s comprehensive approach to water and sanitation demonstrates the integration of education, research, governance, and community action in line with the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 methodology. By combining scientific excellence with public responsibility, the university ensures that its campus operations and academic activities directly contribute to a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future. Through innovation, collaboration, and transparency, KNUCA proves that clean water and sanitation are not only an infrastructure priority but also a core value of its institutional culture and educational mission.