Indah Water Konsortium wins global recognition for sustainable wastewater innovation in Spain

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia's national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, has achieved major international acclaim after being named the SDG 6 Champion of the Year at the prestigious Global Water Awards 2026 held in Madrid, Spain.

The award, presented by Global Water Intelligence, recognised IWK’s innovative project titled “Solar-powered Sanitation: No Upfront Cost, Cuts Emissions”, which integrates renewable energy into wastewater treatment operations while promoting long-term environmental and financial sustainability.

The initiative involves the deployment of solar energy systems across 16 sewage treatment plants nationwide through a Private Financing Initiative (PFI) model, enabling the company to implement renewable energy solutions without upfront public capital investment.

Through the programme, IWK has successfully generated 6.3 MWp of solar energy capacity, producing approximately 7,700 MWh of renewable energy annually to support the treatment of nearly 148 million cubic metres of wastewater each year.

The company said the initiative is expected to reduce electricity grid costs by around RM41.8 million while cutting more than five gigagrammes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

IWK chief executive officer Narendran Maniam said the recognition reflects the company’s commitment towards embedding sustainability into its operations and ensuring long-term resilience in the sanitation sector.

Malaysia's national sewerage company, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, has achieved major international acclaim after being named the SDG 6 Champion of the Year at the prestigious Global Water Awards 2026 held in Madrid, Spain.

“We are truly honoured to receive this award. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and this initiative reflects our commitment to continuously pushing boundaries to ensure that we remain sustainable, both from an environmental and financial standpoint,” he said.

He added that the project demonstrates how innovation in wastewater treatment can create long-term value while contributing meaningfully towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on clean water and sanitation.

IWK was shortlisted alongside several international water and sanitation organisations, including Aguas Nuevas from Chile, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board from India, as well as SANASA and Sanepar from Brazil.

Global Water Intelligence founder and chief executive officer Christopher Gasson described IWK’s initiative as a strong example of how innovative financing and renewable energy can be successfully integrated into core sanitation infrastructure.

He said the project delivers measurable operational, environmental and financial outcomes while providing a model that utilities around the world can emulate in achieving SDG 6 and strengthening water system resilience.

The Global Water Awards, organised annually in conjunction with the Global Water Summit, celebrates excellence, sustainability leadership and technological innovation across the international water industry.