Water Consumption

A fifty percent reduction in water use seems like an almost impossible feat for a hospitality property, but with some creativity, work and government regulation changes, it's readily feasible. The use of low-flow water fixtures is an obvious step to take. Creating beautiful gardens and landscapes with native vegetation that grows with minimal, if any, additional water is another way to reduce water consumption. Finding multiple uses for water is not so obvious a step to take, but is key to reducing water consumption dramatically.

Multiple uses for water includes having a gray water system as part of your waste management plan, whereby water from sources like the laundry room, kitchen, sinks and showers is diverted from the septic or sewer system and used to water gardens. The soil is a wonderful, effective filter for removing particles and some chemicals from water (some chemicals need to be filter from the water before being released to the ground). Why pay for processed drinking water to use in your garden or flush your toilets? There are several areas where water can be utilized after its main use and before being dumped into the septic or sewer system; your engineers can guide you as to where those water sources are, and start figuring out how to utilize it. Storm water management will allow for catching run-off from roofs and parking lots, water law allowing, to use around your property, like for your HVAC, flushing toilets, washing sidewalks and parking lots, and watering the garden before letting it return to the earth.

The biggest challenge to these multiple use ideas is regulation. Many communities, at least in the western world, have laws against gray water systems because of the fear of "germs". The people writing these regulations would be well served to educate themselves better about the pros and cons of gray water systems before outlawing them. Understanding the nature of water source limits is another part of their education, to help them understand how drastically their thinking needs to change so that drinking water doesn't get placed on the endangered species list.

Water from HVAC systems, reverse osmosis systems, and ice machines can be reused with planning. Having piping that will move the used water to places it can be utilized again is important. Placing systems so it easier to recycle the water the use can be helpful, like placing two compatible water-using system together. Installing appropriate filters so that sediments and chemicals can be removed before the water is reused my be necessary too. Creativity can help in saving water from the drain, reducing your costs and saving the natural resource.

Scientists warn that if we don't change, by 2050 agriculture will need to double the amount of water it presently uses to grow food. And if industry is using increasingly larger amounts of water, how can both needs be met with dwindling quantities of water? The ideal approach is getting more value for every water drop, to stop damage to the environment, and to help reduce starvation and poverty around the world. It's important for the "civilized" world to be proactive in this water issue so we can continue to live as we have been. Helping others is a noble cause too.

The scientists meeting in Stockholm to form a new water agenda concluded their debates with six points that can relate directly to the hospitality industry:
1.) Think differently about water. People, especially in the western world, have thought of it as an abundant, renewable resource to be captured and used without regard to environmental consequences. That notion needs to be replaced with the understanding that water isn't renewable and it needs to be allocated carefully and wisely.

2.) Get water to poor people. This includes not only making ways available for the poor around the world to access water for their livelihoods and food supplies, but also that their water supplies don't inadvertantly get hijacked by the wealthy. If industry, which includes hospitality, continues to get a higher priority for potable water than the poor, we'll all be in trouble.

3.) Increase water productivity. This point addresses more water-efficient approaches to agriculture, and related food-raising activities, as well as "western" industry's water consumption. This is a big factor in reducing water use around the world.

4.) Consider a continuum of options for agricultural water management. Increase the "safe" use of marginal-quality water, including fully- and partially-treated wastewater, as well as brackish water. This critical resource can improve livelihoods of people "down stream". If a safe re-use of wastewater can be achieved, wastewater can become an asset it a wide range of ways to a wide range of people. Agriculture is vital, and water is needed for most of it. Making water available so that crops can be safely grown, and in efficient ways so that a variety of foods are grown with the same water, is important. The hospitality industry can help attain this goal by being more conserving.

5.) Reform the state to improve the governance of water. The state plays a critical role in water management and its reform. Governments need to:
* re-allocate water uses so agriculture, cities and industry have access
* provide incentives for water conservation, including rewards for saving water
* create and enforce water quality standards
* establish and implement systems of water rights or entitlements

6.) Deal with trade-offs and difficult choices. Face the hard choices with creativity to see the numerous ways we can relieve the problems of scarcity. The hard choices entail trade-offs between poor farmers and others in food production and the wealthy; to this point the poor farmers have typically been on the loosing end of the trade-offs. We need to establish goals that better balance poverty reduction, food security, and environmental protection. In addition to the trade-offs and difficult choices there must be decisive action. Without decisive action the expanding world water crisis will overtake us all, sooner than later.

According to the scientists who met in Stockholm, we need a 50 percent reduction in water consumption to alleviate a water crisis. That reduction means cutting down on uses of fresh water to a certain extent, it also means wisely re-using water. To preserve your way of life, start using water more wisely today. Lead the way in developing water conservation steps that will cut your water consumption by at least 50 percent. Your water bill will be cut by at least that amount too.