SACRAMENTO—Following the lowest snowpack ever recorded and with no end to the drought in sight, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. yesterday announced actions that will save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state’s drought response and invest in new technologies that will make California more drought resilient.“Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow,” said Governor Brown. “This historic drought demands unprecedented action. Therefore, I’m issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state. As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way...

BETHESDA, MD.—On the eve of World Water Day (March 22), Marriott announced that global water intensity in its worldwide managed hotels decreased in 2014 by 5.3 percent over 2013, and 16.3 percent compared to 2007. In 2007, the company set  2020 goals to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, as well as energy reductions of 20 percent across its managed portfolio of hotels worldwide, as part of a broader global sustainability strategy. “We are extremely pleased with our 2014 water intensity results,” said Denise Naguib, Vice President, Sustainability and Supplier Diversity, Marriott International. “Water conservation is an area of...

NATIONAL REPORT—Water treatment for systems such as cooling towers, chillers, heat exchangers and evaporative condensers has traditionally been one that has required the use of hazardous chemicals—e.g. chlorine, bromine, isothiazolinone, molybdate, phosphonate—to control calcium, bacteria, algae, scale, corrosion and biofilm. Because of the toxicity of the water treated with chemicals, it cannot be reused on property. A number of suppliers, however, have developed chemical free or similarly safe treatment systems that allow for the reuse of blow-down water while still providing a means to keep systems clean and running efficiently. Chemical free treatments vary from the introduction of atomic...

MANCHESTER, N.H.—Xeros, the innovator of an ultra-low water laundry system, announced a new partner program in North America aimed at commercial laundry suppliers that will resell and service Xeros’ award-winning polymer bead cleaning systems. Xeros is offering resellers attractive margins as well the ability to build a monthly recurring revenue stream from services and sales of the Sbeadycare all-inclusive laundry management program to hotels, commercial and industrial laundries, dry cleaners, fitness clubs and spas. Resellers can learn more about the Xeros Partner Program at The Clean Show 2015, at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, on April 16 to...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—As California enters a fourth year of severe drought, the State Water Resources Control Board Tuesday adopted an expanded emergency regulation to safeguard the state’s remaining water supplies. While Californians have made great strides to conserve water, more effort is needed, the State Water Resources Control Board said.“We are experiencing the lowest snowpack and the driest January in recorded history, and communities around the state are already suffering severely from the prior three years of drought,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “If the drought continues through next winter and we do not conserve more—the consequences could...

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO—Moen, the leading faucet company, introduces Moen Express Direct. This convenient option offers same-day shipment on all Moen Wholesale, Cleveland Faucet Group (CFG), bath accessory and Moen Commercial products with available inventory. Orders placed by 2 p.m. EST (with free ground shipping) or by 4 p.m. EST (with air shipping) will ship the same day. Wholesalers will pay a flat fee plus applicable shipping charges for Moen, CFG, Commercial and bath accessory products.“At Moen we listen to our customers and take pride in thoughtfully designing products and services that will enhance their business...and this type of program...

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Extended Stay America (ESA), owner and operator of 682 hotels across the United States and Canada, is more than half way through a renovation program that began in 2012 and is projected to be completed next year. As it has worked its way through each hotel, ESA has been faced with the challenge of finding what to do with old carpet, mattresses, box springs, bedding, lighting and other items. Through partnerships with suppliers, recyclers and various charities ESA has found a way to keep the “retired” items out of the landfill. So far, 25 million cubic feet of...

MINNEAPOLIS—IrriGreen, Inc. is releasing the Genius Mobile App for the IrriGreen Genius Irrigation System. Engineered for iOS and Android, the Genius Mobile App enables contractors to manage the IrriGreen system from any Smartphone.IrriGreen’s embedded computer technology continuously computes and adjusts stream volumes, directions and distances for each Genius Sprinkler. The new app provides interactive zone mapping with a visual display of the shape of each irrigation zone and the distances of the sprays from each sprinkler head. Installers use the app to align water streams to landscape features in each zone. The software automatically calculates spray distances, sets the...

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI—The new Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel has checked in its first guests. Among the 200 new Haitian hotel workers who welcomed them were young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Haitian-Americans who want to share their hospitality skills to help boost Haiti’s tourism economy. The stories of these new associates include Luccardo, who was recruited to work at the hotel’s front desk from the Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs orphanage, and Hermine, who was part of the hotel’s intern program and will be an entry-level supervisor. In addition to members of a Haitian-American executive team, the Haiti Marriott is led...

COARSEGOLD, CALIF.—High Sierra Showerheads announced that all of its 1.8 gpm showerhead models are now WaterSense certified as well as certified to be compliant with the International Plumbing Codes and the following standards: ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1-2012.WaterSense certification means that High Sierra’s showerheads have been independently tested and certified to not only save water and energy, but to perform as well or better than much higher flowing showerheads.“The plumbing codes and standards listings are also very important to our customers because they certify that our showerheads are manufactured with the highest standard of quality,” said David Malcolm, owner, High Sierra...