IGI Airport water-positive achievement: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport becomes India’s first high-capacity water-positive airport through rainwater harvesting, sewage recycling, and sustainable infrastructure.
IGI Airport Becomes India’s First “Water-Positive” Airport: A Milestone in Sustainable Aviation
What “Water-Positive” Means
In December 2025, IGI Airport, operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), was officially certified as India’s first “water-positive” airport among high-capacity airports handling over 40 million passengers annually.
A “water-positive” facility is defined as one that replenishes — through recharge, recycling, and water-saving measures — more water back into the environment than it consumes.
How IGI Achieved This Status
To reach this milestone, IGI implemented a multi-pronged water management and conservation strategy:
- The airport has installed over 625 rainwater-harvesting structures across its premises to capture rainfall and recharge groundwater.
- Two newly commissioned underground reservoirs with a total capacity of 9 million litres enable large-scale storage of rainwater for use during dry periods.
- IGI operates a 16.6 million litres per day (MLD) zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant, which recycles 100% of its wastewater. Treated water is reused for non-potable applications such as HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and other uses.
- For landscaping, efficient water-use systems — such as sprinkler and drip-irrigation networks — have been deployed to minimise wastage.
- Simultaneously, a modern water-treatment plant ensures potable water supply to passengers with minimal wastage.
Official Recognition and Certification
The “water-positive” certification was formally conferred during the Water Innovation Summit 2025, under the framework of NITI Aayog–Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Water Neutrality standards. DIAL’s CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, stated that this milestone reflects the airport’s commitment to responsible resource use, environmental stewardship, and a long-term vision to evolve IGI into a net-zero airport.
Significance in the Larger Sustainability Agenda
IGI’s achievement is not just a one-off infrastructure upgrade — it marks a trend where large-scale transport hubs in India are rethinking resource management. By prioritizing water conservation, recycling and efficient infrastructure, IGI sets a benchmark for sustainable aviation and climate-resilient infrastructure across India.
Why This News Matters
Sustainable resource management, especially water, is becoming a critical challenge in India — more so in densely populated and water-stressed regions. The certification of IGI as a “water-positive” airport signals a paradigm shift: big infrastructure doesn’t have to come at the cost of environmental damage.
For aspirants preparing for civil services, banking, railway, defence or administrative roles, such developments are significant on multiple fronts:
- Relevance to environment & ecology: Questions on water conservation, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, and government/industry initiatives are frequently asked in general-studies, current-affairs, and environment-related sections.
- Infrastructure & governance link: Understanding how public/private infrastructure undertakings align with national sustainability goals (for e.g. through frameworks involving NITI Aayog & CII) gives aspirants insight into India’s policy implementation and governance dynamics.
- Model for future projects: As India expands its airport, railway, and urban infrastructure network, IGI’s example demonstrates that sustainability can be integral from the design phase — something future bureaucrats, planners, and administrators must appreciate.
Hence, this news is not just about one airport — it reflects India’s growing focus on sustainable infrastructure, efficient resource management, and climate-resilient development.
Historical Context
Water Stress & Infrastructure in India
India — especially its urban and peri-urban regions — has long struggled with water scarcity, groundwater depletion, and inequitable distribution of water resources. In many metro areas, over-exploitation of groundwater, inconsistent rainfall, and rising demand have stressed water supply infrastructure.
Large infrastructure projects (airports, industrial hubs, urban expansions) typically place additional burden on existing water resources. Historically, many such projects have relied on external freshwater supply or overuse local groundwater, exacerbating water scarcity and environmental imbalance.
Emergence of Water Neutrality & Sustainability Frameworks
In response to growing environmental concerns, governing bodies and industry associations in India initiated frameworks and guidelines to promote water neutrality and sustainability. The collaboration between NITI Aayog and CII to promote water neutrality aims to encourage organisations to balance their freshwater consumption with measures like rainwater harvesting, recycling, reuse, and replenishment.
In parallel, green infrastructure norms, water-efficient technologies, and waste-to-resource mechanisms have gained traction across urban development, public works, and transport sectors.
IGI Airport’s Past Sustainability Steps
Before this, IGI (operated by DIAL) already had adopted several eco-friendly practices. The airport had earlier earned recognition under global environmental accreditation programmes for carbon management and waste reduction — showcasing intent to move beyond mere compliance toward sustainability.
Thus, becoming “water-positive” is the next logical milestone in this evolution: from carbon and waste management to holistic resource stewardship.
Key Takeaways from IGI Airport Becoming Water-Positive
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | IGI Airport has become India’s first airport with capacity over 40 million passengers to be certified “water-positive.” |
| 2 | The airport uses more than 625 rainwater-harvesting structures and two underground reservoirs (total 9 million litre capacity) for groundwater recharge and storage. |
| 3 | A 16.6 MLD zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant recycles all wastewater for non-potable usage (HVAC, landscaping, toilets etc.). |
| 4 | Water-efficiency measures — such as sprinkler and drip irrigation for landscaping — and a water-treatment plant for potable water help minimize wastage. |
| 5 | The water-positive certification was awarded under the NITI Aayog–CII Water Neutrality Framework during the Water Innovation Summit 2025, marking IGI as a benchmark for sustainable infrastructure in India. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does it mean for an airport to be “water-positive”?
A water-positive airport replenishes more water into the environment than it consumes through rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, and efficient water management systems.
2. Which airport in India has become the first water-positive airport?
Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi is India’s first airport to achieve the water-positive status among high-capacity airports.
3. What strategies did IGI Airport implement to become water-positive?
IGI Airport installed over 625 rainwater-harvesting structures, constructed underground reservoirs with 9 million litres capacity, operates a 16.6 MLD zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant, and uses efficient irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems.
4. Who certified IGI Airport as water-positive?
The certification was awarded under the NITI Aayog–CII Water Neutrality framework during the Water Innovation Summit 2025.
5. Why is water-positive infrastructure important in India?
India faces significant water stress, particularly in urban areas. Water-positive infrastructure ensures sustainable water management, reduces environmental impact, and sets a benchmark for climate-resilient development.
6. How is the recycled water at IGI Airport utilized?
Recycled water is used for non-potable applications such as air-conditioning (HVAC), toilet flushing, landscape irrigation, and other operational needs.
7. What is the total daily capacity of IGI Airport’s sewage treatment plant?
The zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant at IGI Airport has a capacity of 16.6 million litres per day (MLD).
8. How does this achievement relate to sustainable aviation?
IGI’s water-positive status demonstrates the airport’s commitment to sustainability, efficient resource use, and environmental stewardship, setting an example for other transport hubs.
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