NU's contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Vision: To be a leading institution in promoting sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility, contributing to the well-being of society and the environment.
Mission: To integrate sustainable practices into all aspects of campus life, ensuring that education, research, and community engagement align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mission: To integrate sustainable practices into all aspects of campus life, ensuring that education, research, and community engagement align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure sustainable management and access to water and sanitation for everyone.
Our goals in action
Nazarbayev University demonstrates a robust commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 through an integrated strategy encompassing infrastructure, innovation, research, and education. NU’s work focuses on promoting sustainable water use, improving water quality, protecting ecosystems, and equipping communities with knowledge and resources to support long-term water resilience.
Nazarbayev University demonstrates a robust commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 through an integrated strategy encompassing infrastructure, innovation, research, and education. NU’s work focuses on promoting sustainable water use, improving water quality, protecting ecosystems, and equipping communities with knowledge and resources to support long-term water resilience.
Administration and Operations
Teaching and student life
Drinking Fountains: On campus, the initiative to maintain and expand access to public drinking fountains is a key step towards promoting access to clean, safe drinking water. These fountains provide students, staff, and visitors with easy access to free, fresh water, reducing the need for bottled water and supporting sustainable water consumption. The installation of these fountains is part of a broader effort to enhance public access to clean water and reduce plastic waste.
Groundwater Utilization for Non-Potable Use: Borehole systems supply groundwater for irrigation and landscape maintenance, alleviating demand on potable water systems.
Quality Assurance: A regular water quality testing regime ensures compliance with safety standards for all drinking water systems.
Monitoring and Consumption: An advanced metering system tracks water use in academic, residential, and tenant-occupied buildings, supporting data-informed conservation.
Wastewater and Pollution Control: On-site stormwater and wastewater systems include reverse osmosis, softening filters, and mesh particle traps, with total treatment capacity of 25,800 liters.
Bactericidal installations ensure pathogen control before discharge.
Efficient Irrigation: An automated Hunter-brand irrigation system waters green areas at optimal times, reducing waste.
Supplemental irrigation uses treated water from on-campus filtration systems.
Water Reuse Initiatives: Campus car wash systems utilize a closed-loop filtration mechanism with a 1,000-liter tank and 5.5 L/s pump to recycle water effectively.
Sustainable Water Sourcing: During warmer months, water is sourced from the Nura-Yesil canal for landscape irrigation, measured and managed through flow meters.
Groundwater Utilization for Non-Potable Use: Borehole systems supply groundwater for irrigation and landscape maintenance, alleviating demand on potable water systems.
Quality Assurance: A regular water quality testing regime ensures compliance with safety standards for all drinking water systems.
Monitoring and Consumption: An advanced metering system tracks water use in academic, residential, and tenant-occupied buildings, supporting data-informed conservation.
Wastewater and Pollution Control: On-site stormwater and wastewater systems include reverse osmosis, softening filters, and mesh particle traps, with total treatment capacity of 25,800 liters.
Bactericidal installations ensure pathogen control before discharge.
Efficient Irrigation: An automated Hunter-brand irrigation system waters green areas at optimal times, reducing waste.
Supplemental irrigation uses treated water from on-campus filtration systems.
Water Reuse Initiatives: Campus car wash systems utilize a closed-loop filtration mechanism with a 1,000-liter tank and 5.5 L/s pump to recycle water effectively.
Sustainable Water Sourcing: During warmer months, water is sourced from the Nura-Yesil canal for landscape irrigation, measured and managed through flow meters.
Rainwater Harvesting System: A new initiative will involve the implementation of a rainwater harvesting system on campus to collect and use rainwater for non-potable purposes. This system will help conserve fresh water by capturing rainwater for irrigation, landscaping, and other non-drinking uses. The project supports SDG 6 by promoting water conservation and reducing dependence on potable water sources for non-essential purposes, helping to mitigate water scarcity and enhance sustainability on campus.
Research and Innovation
Current Initiatives
Urban Water Resources Management Project (TERESA): The TERESA Project focuses on integrating German expertise in urban water management into Kazakhstan's cities, aiming to improve water efficiency and sustainability. The project emphasizes the application of innovative methods for urban water use, treatment, and distribution to address the growing challenges posed by urbanization and climate change. By adopting proven solutions from Germany, the project seeks to optimize the management of water resources, ensuring that urban areas in Kazakhstan can meet their future water demands. This initiative aligns with SDG 6 by promoting clean water and efficient water use in urban settings.
Nazarbayev University’s research community contributes to cutting-edge studies relevant to water security and environmental protection:
On-site Wastewater Treatment Technologies
The stormwater and wastewater treatment system integrates reverse osmosis, softening filters, and mesh particle traps with a total capacity of 25,800 liters. These advanced treatment methods provide a platform for studying decentralized water purification technologies and evaluating their environmental impact.
The stormwater and wastewater treatment system integrates reverse osmosis, softening filters, and mesh particle traps with a total capacity of 25,800 liters. These advanced treatment methods provide a platform for studying decentralized water purification technologies and evaluating their environmental impact.
Closed-loop Car Wash Filtration System
A car wash system with a closed-loop water recycling mechanism, a 1,000-liter tank, and a 5.5 L/s pump enables effective water reuse. This system can support innovation-focused research on sustainable urban services and greywater recycling efficiency.
A car wash system with a closed-loop water recycling mechanism, a 1,000-liter tank, and a 5.5 L/s pump enables effective water reuse. This system can support innovation-focused research on sustainable urban services and greywater recycling efficiency.
Advanced Water Metering System
The campus uses an advanced metering system to track water usage in academic, residential, and tenant-occupied buildings. This supports data-driven conservation strategies and offers opportunities for research on behavioral water use patterns and smart resource management.
The campus uses an advanced metering system to track water usage in academic, residential, and tenant-occupied buildings. This supports data-driven conservation strategies and offers opportunities for research on behavioral water use patterns and smart resource management.
Oil spill risk and shoreline protection strategies in the Caspian Sea: This study develops a hybrid environmental sensitivity index (ESI) map for Azerbaijan’s Caspian coast to assess and manage oil spill risks. By integrating ecological, socio-economic, and physical data, it supports better preparedness and response, with potential application across all Caspian countries.
Legal and policy frameworks on mine water management: Rapid growth of mining in Kazakhstan is significantly increasing water stress, highlighting the urgent need for stronger water management.
Rehabilitation strategies for urban wetlands (e.g., Taldykol Lakes): This study examines the dramatic loss of urban wetlands in Astana’s Taldykol area due to rapid urbanization. It highlights the environmental consequences, including reduced biodiversity, increased flood risk, and rising land surface temperatures.
Impacts of climate change on Central Asian endorheic lake systems: This study models the impacts of climate change and human water use on Shortandy Lake in Central Asia. Results show a major water volume decline from 1986 to 2016, with 92% of the loss caused by water abstraction. Since 2013, lake levels have recovered due to increased rainfall and reduced human use. The study highlights the value of simple water balance models for data-scarce regions.
Remote sensing of marine and inland water pollution: Automated monitoring of oil pollution and natural seepage slicks in the Caspian Sea and its coastal areas using deep learning and machine learning techniques applied to microwave and optical satellite remote sensing data
Planned Initiatives
Through the Sustainability Living Lab and related programs, students contribute to water monitoring projects using real-time environmental sensors and participate in sustainability-focused coursework.
Public exhibitions, lectures, and workshops highlight sustainable water practices and environmental stewardship.
Public exhibitions, lectures, and workshops highlight sustainable water practices and environmental stewardship.
Nazarbayev University exemplifies institutional commitment to SDG 6 through comprehensive and evidence-based practices that span research, education, infrastructure, and community involvement—paving the way for more sustainable water management across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.