Over the last year we have demonstrated our commitment to the principles of the SDGs though our effective and efficient use of water, a key natural resource; by preventing and reducing waste and managing waste in a sustainable way and by encouraging and facilitating sustainable transport and travel patterns. We are committed to creating a campus that will have a positive impact on the surrounding environment, promoting resource efficiency, reducing pollution and protecting historic areas of the campus.

Our Strategic Aim is to minimise the local, regional and global environmental impacts of water usage by reducing university-wide water usage, increasing the use of reclaimed water and reduce bottled water consumption on campus.

Water fountains on campus

University of Galway has a network of over 30 drinking water fountains on campus, including 6 recently installed outdoor ones.

  1. Dunlin student village
  2. Alice Perry Engineering Building
  3. Áras na Gaeilge
  4. Shannon Hotel and Catering college.
  5. Library reading room.
  6. Outside Kingfisher Club

Photos of Water Fountains on Campus

Certified Water Stewardship

University of Galway is committed to the effective and efficient use of water throughout the campus and the appropriate treatment, management and disposal of wastewater. The University is striving to reduce its water usage and increase the use of harvested rainwater through a series of measures, including: water leakage detection and repair programme, education and outreach, process-related efficiency measures, greywater and rainwater harvesting. The Certified Water Stewardship badge demonstrates that key staff have undertaken a course designed to show leadership and set goals/targets in reducing water consumption.

Certified Water Stewardship logo

University of Galway Water Stewardship Charter

The University of Galway Water Stewardship Charter outlines our key actions and targets.

The Charter commits to maintaining and achieving further reductions in water usage on campus and to highlighting the importance of water of as a critical and limited resource. It aims to ensure that our future water professionals are cognisant of best, sustainable practices in water resource management, treatment and supply, through research-led teaching and on‐campus applied solutions.

University of Galway Water Chartership

University of Galway Water Map

Strategic Aims

  • To raise awareness with staff, students and visitors of water as a critical and limited resource that must be used responsibly.
  • To reduce water usage on campus by 10% by 2025 based on 2018 baseline.
  • To eliminate all unnecessary water usage on campus, to maintain and further improve the water usage reductions achieved on campus in the last period.
  • University of Galway to utilise new technologies and methods to reduce water consumption on our Laboratory's and Research labs.
  • To eliminate the reliance of staff, students and visitors on single use plastics for water consumption.

University of Galway Water Research Project

The University of Galway Waternomics research project.

University of Galway Presented with Recertification of Water Stewardship Badge

Michael Curran Head of Building Services at University of Galway was delighted to accept the Gold Member of Water Stewardship Ireland 2023 on behalf of the University of Galway. The certificate was recognised as Mirco credentials hosted by the Climate Ready Academy and 20FIFTY Partners,

During the Sustainability Practitioners’ Conference on the 29th June 2023 certificates were presented to those who completed the course and presented on their Water Stewardship Badge submissions.

Photo from Sustainability Practitioners’ Conference 2023