I have reported on different systems hotels and resorts have employed to reduce/eliminate the use of plastic water bottles on property—water bottle refill stations, water systems that provide filtered water or sparkling water for settings such as restaurants or meetings, the giving away of reusable bottles to encourage use of refill stations, and even water-from-air systems.
It is imperative that the lodging industry do its part to remove single-use plastic water bottles from the waste stream.
Globally, 5 billion plastic water bottles are consumed each year.
This past week I had an opportunity to chat with Rob Duffin, founder and CEO of Aquavis, provider of an under-the-sink water filtration option for hotels and resorts and also a Green Key Global partner. Aquavis was launched about two years ago but only recently began targeting hospitality. At least one hotel has installed the filtration system in more than 100 of its guestrooms.
Removes Almost All Microplastics
I have written numerous times about the pervasiveness of microplastics in our environment. What grabbed my attention about the Aquavis system is its ability to remove 98.9 percent of microplastics. Also eliminated: 99.7 percent of lead, 98.9 percent of chlorine, 92.6 percent of chloramines, 98.1 percent of cysts—parasites, bacteria, and other microorganisms—along with pesticides, herbicides, and PFAS.
Duffin says 56 percent of served water has detectable lead. About 50 percent has PFAS, and 95 percent has microplastics.
First-time lodging users of the easy-to-install Aquavis system purchase the attachments and the filter and then just the replacement filter once a year.
About 90 percent of people filter water at home. “It is an amenity guests actually love,” Duffin says, adding that hoteliers can make guests aware of the filtered water at the front desk, with an acrylic sign, or sticker on the mirror. He encourages hoteliers to inform guests about the frequency of filter maintenance.
Makes Financial Sense
While reverse osmosis systems can also remove microplastics, they can be cost-prohibitive. “We can save money in year one,” Duffin says, in the thousands of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per year.
In order to remove microplastics, the NSF-certified Aquavis system removes impurities .5 microns in size—200 times smaller than a human hair.
To go along with the filtered guestroom water, Aquavis sells reusable bottles made from aluminum, glass or stainless steel.
Duffin says that while water in refill stations or other systems may not be filtered to the degree that Aquavis filters, they all can contribute to the reduction of single-use plastic water bottles.
Green Lodging News Adds Bradley Co. as Founding Sponsor
Green Lodging News has added the Bradley Company as a Founding Sponsor at the Bronze level. For more than 100 years, Bradley has been a leader in advanced commercial washroom solutions that help make public environments more hygienic, efficient and safe. Founded in Wisconsin in 1921, Bradley built its reputation on innovation that improves handwashing performance, beginning with the original Washfountain and continuing today with next-generation touchless technologies.
Bradley’s commercial washroom products are designed to support sustainability and operational goals common across lodging and hospitality environments, including cleanliness, maintainability, water efficiency, and long product life. Core offerings include seamless, cast-formed lavatory systems and washbasins made from durable, sustainable and nonporous materials such as Terreon solid surface and Evero natural quartz. These materials resist moisture, stains, and bacteria while maintaining their appearance over time.
The company delivers an array of advanced touchless handwashing solutions, including the award-winning WashBar, the industry’s first all-in-one handwashing and drying fixture that integrates soap, water, and drying into a single, hands-free unit. Bradley also offers matching Verge Soap and Faucet Sets in coordinating styles and finishes, supporting hygiene and unified washroom designs. Complementing these handwashing systems are Elvari Washroom Accessories, which deliver coordinated aesthetics, fingerprint-resistant finishes, and advanced features that simplify cleaning and servicing. Streamlined Euro-style restroom partition models, such as Float and Loft, feature no visible hardware and optional occupancy indicators, making them well suited for demanding commercial restrooms.
In addition to washroom solutions, Bradley serves industrial and institutional markets with emergency eyewash and shower equipment, electric tankless water heaters, and HDPE and phenolic lockers. Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Bradley is a subsidiary of Watts Water Technologies, serving commercial, institutional, and industrial building markets worldwide.
Call 1-800-BRADLEY or e-mail Abby Heppe at abigail.heppe@bradleycorp.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,588 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
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