Termez State University (TerSU) implements an institutional Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Management Programme covering its five campus sites. The programme is governed by the university's Water Reuse and Sustainable Water Management Policy and Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Management Policy, establishing preventive controls for wastewater, hazardous chemicals, stormwater contamination and accidental pollution incidents.
1. Institutional Pollution Prevention Measures
The university operates separate wastewater and stormwater management systems. Domestic wastewater from academic buildings, laboratories, dormitories, canteens and administrative facilities is collected through internal sewer networks and transferred to the authorised Termez municipal wastewater treatment system.
To prevent pollutants from entering water systems, TerSU implements:
- Laboratory controls: Segregation of hazardous chemicals, acids, solvents and heavy-metal-containing substances into designated containers, with disposal through authorised treatment routes rather than sinks or drains.
- Canteen wastewater controls: Drain screens, grease-control procedures and regular cleaning to prevent food residues, fats and oils from entering sewer systems.
- Chemical and maintenance storage: Covered and bunded storage areas, spill-control equipment and controlled removal of hazardous materials.
- Stormwater protection: Physical separation of sanitary wastewater and rainwater drainage, supported by regular inspections of channels, gutters and reservoirs.
2. Water Quality Monitoring and Inspection (2025)
Six designated water-quality control points distributed across its campus infrastructure.
|
Monitoring location |
Control objective |
|
MP-01 - Main Campus sewer outlet |
Wastewater quality and pollution detection |
|
MP-02 - Northern Campus sewer connection |
Wastewater contamination and incident monitoring |
|
MP-03 - Western Campus sewer connection |
Wastewater contamination and incident monitoring |
|
MP-04 - Rectorate rainwater reservoir |
Stormwater and recycled-water protection |
|
MP-05 - Darband Training Base |
Spring, rainwater and irrigation-water protection |
|
MP-06 - Drinking-water distribution point |
Sanitary quality and contamination detection |
The documented monitoring programme establishes monthly infrastructure inspections (12 scheduled rounds annually) and quarterly wastewater laboratory monitoring (4 scheduled rounds annually). Campus sewer connections are inspected semi-annually and following incidents, while additional risk-based sampling is undertaken after spills, overflows or abnormal conditions.
Laboratory monitoring covers pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids, nitrates, phosphates, oils, grease and relevant microbiological indicators.
As an additional water-safety measure 48 drinking-water laboratory samples collected from 12 representative monitoring points, with 48 samples meeting the stated acceptance criteria (100% compliance).
3. Accidental Pollution Prevention and Emergency Response
TerSU maintains a documented corrective-action procedure for chemical spills, wastewater overflows, leaks, sewer blockages and unexpected water-quality deterioration.
When an incident occurs, the university's procedure requires immediate control of the pollution source, protection of nearby drains, notification of responsible departments, technical inspection, containment or removal of contaminants, additional sampling where necessary and documented verification before closing the incident.
The incident-response framework distinguishes three severity levels:
|
Incident level |
Example |
Required response |
|
Level 1 - Minor |
Local blockage or small non-hazardous spill |
Same-day correction and recording |
|
Level 2 - Significant |
Wastewater overflow, abnormal water quality or contained chemical spill |
Immediate notification, containment and corrective action |
|
Level 3 - Critical |
Major sewer failure, hazardous chemical discharge or potential public-health impact |
Emergency response, Rectorate escalation and formal reporting |
These procedures are implemented through the Facilities and Infrastructure Department, laboratory management, Environmental Monitoring Team, Emergency Unit and Environmental Sustainability Coordination Group.
4. Wastewater Management and Pollution Reduction Results (2025)
|
Performance indicator |
2025 result |
|
Designated water-pollution monitoring points |
6 |
|
Wastewater monitoring locations |
3 |
|
Scheduled sewer and drainage inspection frequency |
Monthly |
|
Scheduled wastewater laboratory monitoring frequency |
Quarterly |
|
Drinking-water samples meeting acceptance criteria |
48 of 48 (100%) |
|
Treated wastewater reused for approved non-potable purposes |
36,700 m³ |
|
Rainwater collected and reused |
7,800 m³ |
|
Total recycled water |
44,500 m³ |
|
Dedicated rainwater reservoirs |
3 |
|
Rainwater storage capacity |
143 m³ |
During 2025, the reuse of 36,700 m³ of treated wastewater for landscape irrigation, green-area maintenance, cleaning and technical operations, reducing reliance on freshwater for these purposes. Recycled water is managed separately from drinking-water systems.
The university maintains electronic monitoring records, campus infrastructure maps, inspection documentation and an institutional corrective-action reporting system to support environmental oversight and prevent untreated or contaminated wastewater from entering surrounding water systems.