The Water Institute - a Centre of Excellence of Karunya University (KU) came into existence in August 2008. It was the fulfillment of the vision of the Founders of the University to make use of science and technology to address basic social issues, especially those pertaining to livelihood. The Institute is perhaps the first of its kind to be started in a university in India to address the multifarious functions associated with the water sector: academic programmes, R&D, extension, consultancy and collaborative research.