World Water Day Brings Attention to Precious Resource

Today is World Water Day--an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 of each year as World Water Day. Did you know there are still more than one billion people who do not have adequate access to water? There are also 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation. Here in the United States, we mostly take access to clean water for granted but there are many areas that are currently experiencing drought and straining regional water resources. Interested in knowing whether or not you are living in an area experiencing drought? Check out the U.S. Drought Monitor site.

States with areas currently experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions include Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Many other states are experiencing severe or moderate drought conditions.

Green Lodging News has published many articles on water conservation. Be sure to visit that section of the website. Conserving water is one of the easiest things to do in a hotel. The following is just a partial list of the steps a hotelier can take to conserve water: towel and linen reuse program; water-conserving showerheads, urinals and toilets; faucet aerators; pre-rinse spray valves in the kitchen; investing in water-efficient laundry and cleaning equipment. Planting plants that require minimal watering is also smart. Checking for leaks as part of a preventive maintenance program is also important. All of these steps are good for the environment and good for your bottom line.

What steps have you taken that have had the most dramatic impact on the amount of water you use? Be sure to leave a comment here.