Delhi IGI airport becomes India’s first high-capacity hub to achieve water-positive status

Delhi's IGI airport has become the first airport in the country handling more than 40 million passengers annually to be declared "water-positive", marking a major milestone in sustainable water management and placing India on the global map for climate-resilient aviation infrastructure, officials said on Monday.

GMR Aero-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said Indira Gandhi International Airport has transformed from a groundwater-stressed facility into one that now replenishes more water than it consumes. The achievement was formally recognised at the Water Innovation Summit 2025 in Delhi, where DIAL received the honour for meeting Scope I Water Neutrality under the NITI Aayog–CII Water Neutrality Framework.

DIAL said the accomplishment reflected years of investment in water conservation, monitoring, and restoration, making IGIA one of the few global airports to reach such a benchmark.

At the heart of the transition is an extensive rainwater harvesting network. The airport now operates more than 625 harvesting structures and two new underground reservoirs with a combined capacity of 9 million litres, allowing large-scale rainwater capture and storage across the campus.

Alongside this, a 16.6 MLD zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant recycles all wastewater generated at the airport. The treated water is reused for HVAC systems, landscaping, toilet flushing, and other non-potable needs. DIAL said the system ensures no wastewater leaves the airport premises, easing pressure on local water resources.

Water-efficient infrastructure, including modern sprinkler and drip irrigation, supports conservation across landscaped areas. A state-of-the-art treatment plant supplies potable water to passengers with minimal wastage. These improvements collectively formed the basis of DIAL’s Scope I Water Neutrality Assessment, which acknowledged the airport’s robust measurement, conservation, and watershed-level restoration efforts.

“At DIAL, sustainability is not an obligation, it’s our driving force. Becoming water-positive reflects our deep commitment to responsible resource use, environmental stewardship, and the future of aviation infrastructure. More importantly, this achievement is a significant step towards our long-term vision of strengthening IGIA’s position as a net zero airport,” said CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar.

The new milestone adds weight to IGIA’s existing sustainability record. The airport is already the first in Asia, in its category, to secure Level 5 Carbon Accreditation under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

DIAL said the achievement set a global benchmark for high-capacity airports operating in water-stressed regions.