NATIONAL REPORT—Hotels around the country are getting greener and more sustainable. For the most part, their emphasis has been on such things as reducing energy consumption, using less gas and electricity and using it more efficiently, along with transferring to cleaning solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment. But most recently, their big focus is on water…or, shall we say, the lack thereof.
From dry California and several other areas of the United States to parts of the country that are what we could call “water rich,” hotel properties are looking into a number of ways to reduce water consumption.
Because this focus on water consumption may be new to some hotel property owners and managers, they need to have a working definition of some of the words—the lingo—along with acronyms commonly used when it comes to water reduction strategies. But first, it’s important to understand the difference between two significant terms used in the industry: water conservation and water efficiency.
Water conservation: The easiest way to distinguish between water conservation and water efficiency is to view water conservation as temporary. Water conservation efforts are put into place during a drought or water shortage that is viewed as temporary. When conditions change, the conservation efforts typically end.
Water efficiency: This is more permanent. Examples of water efficiency include fixing leaking taps, installing restroom fixtures, irrigation devices, and similar water-using systems that require less water to operate than conventional equipment or no water at all. Efficient water usage means performing tasks in a manner that consumes less water but that still meets user satisfaction.
Terms to Become Familiar With
With these concepts firmly in mind, the following are some of the most important or commonly heard terms hotel administrators are likely to encounter…and their meaning:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): This organization was started in the late 1800s. When it comes to water and water-using fixtures, they set standards, certifications, and technical information to help manufacturers produce and purchasers select more water-efficient products.
Aquifer: Some areas of the country such as California and the southwestern states are now getting the bulk of their water from underground sources called aquifers (underground water). Aquifers must be replenished with rainfall events or they will go dry. They also take about 10 times as long to replenish than surface water.
Dual-flush: This typically refers to a toilet that has two flushing options, one for liquid waste and one for solid waste. Some systems are manually—user—operated and some automatically determine the correct flush cycle.
GPF: A very important acronym, it refers to gallons per flush. Hotel administrators should always investigate how much water a toilet or urinal uses per flush or if it uses any water at all.
HET: Refers to a high-efficiency toilet. This toilet uses less than the mandated 1.6 gallons per flush.
HEU: An HEU is a high-efficiency urinal that uses less than the current requirement of 1.0 gallon per flush. Although it uses no water at all, a waterless urinal is considered an HEU urinal.
Additional Terms to Know
Potable: Often misunderstood, this refers to water that is drinkable; for instance, a traditional urinal may use as much as 35,000 gallons of potable water per year.
Surface water: This refers to lakes, streams, rivers, etc. that receive the bulk of rainfall.
Water audit: A water audit is an accounting procedure. Its purpose is to accurately determine the amount of accounted- and unaccounted-for water consumed in a facility. Invariably, it is used to identify water use that hotel administrators may not be aware of.
WaterSense: Introduced in 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed this program to encourage water efficiency in the United States; it helps hotel administrators select water using products that meet certain standards, are equivalent or use less water than comparable or traditional products.
Water resource management: Refers to the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources.
Water responsible: This typically refers to the use of water-efficient products that are engineered to reduce or eliminate water consumption.
Water closets: This is an older term but one still used in building construction. It refers to toilets.
Water cycle: Water, whether in urban or rural areas, is always moving. A water cycle refers to the transition and movement of water involving evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, percolation, runoff, and storage.
Water productivity: Water productivity affects economic productivity; this means critical or long-term water shortages invariably have a negative economic impact on a community.
Xeriscape: The use of plant materials and practices that minimize water use. Usually native plants form the basis of this environmentally friendly form of landscaping.
While this list may seem long and even confusing, these are terms that hotel administrators are very likely to encounter as they begin incorporating water reducing strategies. If knowledge is power, then a good understanding of these words and terms can help administrators make more accurate long-term decisions on ways to use water more responsibly and efficiently.
Klaus Reichardt is founder and CEO of Waterless No-Flush Urinals, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water conservation in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.
