6.4.2 : Water reuse measurement
Campus Sustainability Policy
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) establishes its commitment to advanced resource management through its Campus Sustainability Policy, aiming to be a model of a sustainable society. This policy directly addresses the core principles required for effective water reuse measurement by mandating systemic changes across all university operations.
The policy unequivocally commits UTM to "Conserving water bodies/resources" and mandates "Using… water… sustainably" across all public facilities. These directives are the institutional foundation for a water reuse program, enforcing the resource efficiency and conservation behaviors necessary to maximize the volume of water available for recycling and measurement.
While the policy’s primary focus is on strategic implementation, it mandates actions that are crucial prerequisites for measuring reuse:
- Infrastructure Design: It requires the adoption of "sustainable building and infrastructure design" , ensuring new construction and refurbishment projects are designed with the potential to implement closed-loop systems, such as rainwater harvesting or gray water recycling.
- Pollution Control: It targets "Minimizing waste generation and pollution". Protecting water quality at the source is vital, as it ensures that non-potable water, once reused (e.g., for irrigation or flushing), remains safe and viable for continued cycling within the campus ecosystem.
By aligning its strategic plan with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UTM lays the groundwork for future policy updates to explicitly include metrics, targets, and water reuse measurement to quantify progress. The existing policy solidifies the university’s commitment to resource conservation and sustainable use, setting the stage for the next phase of institutional transparency and reporting on measured water reuse volumes.
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