30 Million Litre Capacity RWH System Becomes Operational at NITK Surathkal
Floating pumping station and pipeline carry stored monsoon water to the filtration plant connect to campus network
Mangaluru, Oct 08, 2026: The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, has put into operation “NITKere” by connecting a 30-million-litre rainwater harvesting reservoir with a 1 MLD filtration plant through a 850 metres pipeline. Shri M.M. Murugappan, Chairman, Board of Governors, NITK and Prof. B. Ravi, Director, NITK inaugurated the facility in the presence of Air Marshal B.U. Chengappa, Shri Niranjan Mahabalappa, President Alumni Association, faculty, staff and students.
The rain water harvesting reservoir was created in 2025 by digging a 110 x 50 metre low-lying area in the north-east part of the campus, to a depth of about 5 metres. This work was supported by alumni (1974, 1983 and 1999 batches) and alumni association. In February 2026, a one MLD (million litres per day) water purification plant was set up and commissioned, with support from PETRONET MHB Limited. An innovative floating pump station and 850-m underground pipeline from the reservoir to the water purification plant were supported by Finnovation Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd. This water will be stored in sump tanks connected to the campus water network.
The pumping station floats on fibre-reinforced plastic pontoons, so no intake structure was built into the reservoir’s geomembrane-lined bed. This cuts the unusable water at the bottom of reservoir from about 1.5 metres to less than half a metre. Two 15 HP open-well submersible pumps, rated at 25200 litres per hour, have been installed – one on duty and one as standby. The HDPE pipeline runs inside storm water drains wherever possible and is sleeved at road crossings. Vents and drains are fitted at its high and low points. The work was personally supervised by the alumni involved.
Summer shortages recur every year and have led to campus closures in the past. This year’s deficient monsoon has raised drought concerns across Karnataka. By storing rain water and connecting it to the campus network via the purification plant, the facility is intended to help the Institute avoid such closures in summer.
Shri Murugappan, NITK’s Board Chairman, appreciated the project and involvement of various stakeholders including domain experts, alumni and corporates. He said, “NITKere project demonstrates how collective resolve and collaboration among the stakeholders can solve local problems. The technology as well as implementation of NITKere project can be a good example to emulate in similar places that receive good rainfall during monsoon but face water shortage in summer.”
