Florida is in the middle of one of its worst water shortages in recorded history. The water level of Lake Okeechobee in the southern part of the state is down to 8.91 feet. The normal level is 18 feet. Images shown recently on ABC News depicted the problem clearly: boats stuck in the mud and a pier overlooking nothing but cracked, dry earth. In Flagstaff, Ariz., a community of 62,000 people, the man-made reservoir that provides the water for 40 percent of the population is down to 18 percent of normal level. It is the eighth straight year of drought for Flagstaff.
Everyone knows the desert Southwest is extremely vulnerable to drought conditions, but who would have guessed that Florida and the Southeast would be as well? These areas, unfortunately, are experiencing the fastest population growth in the country (thirsty Las Vegas, which adds 5,000 people to its population each month, tops the list). The strain on Mother Nature is expected to continue, even if global warming does not worsen. A study in the April edition of Science says the Southwest could expect Dust Bowl-like conditions by 2030.
Hotels in areas most vulnerable to drought can do a lot to reduce water consumption and should do so. In Southwest Florida, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) encourages hotels to participate in towel and linen reuse programs by providing them with free guestroom cards and brochures. The program is called Water C.H.A.M.P. (Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program). According to Samantha Sieber, communications assistant at SFWMD, 280 hotels currently participate. They save an average of 20 to 30 percent on laundry costs and reduce state water consumption by millions of gallons of water annually. There are many other steps a hotel can take to reduce water usage. The following are a few examples:
• Install low-flow showerheads to reduce water flow from 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) to 1.6 gpm.
• Retrofit faucets with standard 2.2 gpm or 2.5 gpm aerators with more efficient ones that use as little as .5 gpm. In public restrooms, use faucets that incorporate infrared sensors to reduce water flow.
• Install high-efficiency toilets that use 20 percent less water than a standard 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) model. Better yet, purchase dual-flush toilets that provide two flush options: one for liquid waste (0.8 gpf) and one for solid waste (1.6 gpf).
• In hotel kitchens, use pre-rinse spray valves that use just 1.6 gpm. Older models use from 3 gpm to 6 gpm.
• Plant plants that that require little water. Maintain a 3-inch layer of mulch to retain soil moisture.
• Install waterless urinals in public restrooms.
• Recycle greywater originating from the laundry, showers, dishwashers, etc. for reuse.
These are just a few ways hotels can reduce water consumption. On my website I have a long list of water-saving tips. Click here to access them. By taking these steps, you can help protect water reserves in your community and reduce your costs—all without inconveniencing your guests and staff.
Odds & Ends
This week I will be attending the annual Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) in Orlando. Visit Green Lodging News later in the week for an update of the latest products and technologies to help you save energy and money.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
