IGI Becomes India’s First Water-Positive Airport

Overview: Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has become the first mega-airport in India to achieve water-positive status, meaning it generates more water than it consumes.

Riyaz

Dec-03-2025

IGI Becomes India’s First Water-Positive Airport

The airport (Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi) has achieved a milestone—becoming the first mega-airport in India to be water-positive. This indicates that through various sustainability efforts, it now produces more water than it consumes. There are over 625 rainwater harvesting systems, two underground reservoirs with a capacity of 9 million litres, and a 16.6 MLD zero-liquid discharge sewage-treatment plant, enabling complete recycling of wastewater for non-potable uses. This achievement establishes IGI as a standard for sustainable aviation infrastructure globally and serves as a model for airports in India and around the world to pursue water-positive and environmentally friendly initiatives.

Delhi’s IGI Airport Sets Benchmark with Water-Positive Status

IGI Airport in Delhi has been made a water-positive airport, so the airport replenishes more water than it uses.
It has 625+ systems of rainwater harvesting, 2 underground reservoirs containing 9 million litres.
It has a 16.6 MLD zero-liquid discharge sewage treatment plant, which allows one hundred per cent of the wastewater to be recycled and used in other applications that are not for drinking.
Adopts sustainable water management in accordance with the Water Framework stipulated by NITI Aayog as an attempt to enhance efficient water utilisation as well as conservation efforts.
Establishes a standard of green aviation infrastructure, which other airports strive to embrace water-positive and green practices in the whole of India.

Exam-Related Questions and Answers

Exam & Year	Question (with options)	Answer	Short Explanation
SSC CPO – 2024	As of June 2023, which of the following is India’s largest airport in terms of total passengers? A) Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) B) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata) C) Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai) D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad)	A	Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) had the highest passenger traffic in the period referred.
SSC CHSL – 2023 (Paper of 08 Aug 2023)	In the year 2022, which Indian airport had the most passengers and aircraft movements? A) Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai) B) Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad) C) Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) D) Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru)	C	IGI Airport (Delhi) topped in passengers & aircraft movements in 2022.

Conclusion

The India Airport -the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, turned out to be the first water-positive airport in India is also a major step in environmentally-friendly aviation. IGI creates a model of eco-friendly infrastructure by harvesting more water than it is used, operating wastewater recycling, and sustainable management of water. The success of this project encourages other airports to act on water conservation, motivate other airports and put India at the centre of the green practice in the aviation industry.