Amazon's new project to recharge 17.8 crore litres of water yearly at Pune's NCL campus

The National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) research campus in Pune is set to get a major water conservation project. Amazon India has partnered with water technology startup FluxGen for the initiative. Spread across 380 acres, the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year, after which it will recharge around 17.8 crore litres of water annually.

The project will install smart sensors, aerators and waterless urinals. The aim is to reduce water consumption, collect and treat wastewater for reuse, and recharge groundwater across the campus. The initiative is part of Amazon's broader water conservation drive in India. The company recently achieved its goal of becoming "water positive" ahead of its 2027 target, returning 120 percent of the water it uses to communities and the environment.

Karan Chugh, Director of Operations at Amazon India, said, "This collaboration with FluxGen reflects our strong commitment to water conservation in India. The NCL campus in Pune is exactly the right place to show how technology-driven solutions can bring real change at scale. By investing in integrated water management here, we are not just addressing local water problems but building a model that can be replicated in offices, commercial spaces, schools, hospitals, multi-residential complexes and institutional campuses across the country. At Amazon, we believe responsible water management is essential, and collaborations like this deliver both immediate impact and long-term environmental benefits."

Kanika Goyal, Controller of Administration at the National Chemical Laboratory, said, "At NCL, we have always believed that scientific research should have a real-world impact. This collaboration with Amazon and FluxGen gives us the opportunity to turn our campus into a model of sustainable water management. This integrated approach, combining smart sensors, rainwater harvesting, water reuse and groundwater recharge, aligns with our vision of advancing science for the benefit of society. We hope this project becomes an example for research institutions across the country."

Ganesh Shankar, CEO and founder of FluxGen, said, "What makes this project special is that it brings together different water technologies at one location to create a complete water management system. By contributing to local water security, research institutions can also operate more sustainably, and the NCL campus will be an ideal example of this."

An education campaign will also be launched under the project in 2027, aimed at raising water conservation awareness among young people. It will include quarterly student visits to the NCL campus, where they can see water management technology firsthand. Water conservation clubs will also be set up in local schools, and an educational board game called "HydroQuest" will be launched to teach water conservation principles through play.

Amazon recently announced it has become water positive in India, meaning the company now returns more water to communities than it uses across its operations, including corporate offices, data centres and fulfilment centres. Amazon had set a target of becoming water positive in India by 2027, which it has now achieved ahead of schedule. The company has committed funding of more than 62 crore rupees for water conservation work in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi NCR, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These projects are expected to recharge more than 4 billion litres of water annually through watershed restoration, pond rejuvenation, efficient irrigation, groundwater recharge and water quality improvement programmes tailored to local needs.