Green tourism includes efficient water use
Australia has carefully nurtured its image as being a clean green tourist destination for locals and overseas visitors. Protecting our valuable water resources is an important part of maintaining that competitive advantage.
How much water is used in hospitality?
- In 1993, the Australian Institute of Hotel Engineers estimated a typical 300 room hotel uses 225,000 litres each day or 750 litres per room. For a 300-room hotel, that’s the equivalent of around 1.3 Olympic swimming pools of water each day!
- A commercial sink uses about 40 litres to fill, while a water efficient dishwasher may use as little as 15 litres.
Create a water conservation plan!
Being environmentally responsible will enhance your reputation with staff, visitors and the local community. It will also reduce business costs by lowering water and energy bills.
Here’s a few ways you can conserve water:
- In guest rooms and public toilets, install plumbing fixtures such as efficient shower heads and taps, or insert flow control devices into existing ones
- In the kitchen, use source water efficient or AAA-rated dishwashers
- In the laundry, only use washing machines for full loads and ensure equipment such as boilers, pumps, chillers, and water heaters are used according to actual loads and are shut down when not in use.
- In the pool, install pool and spa covers to reduce evaporation and install equipment with recirculating pumps.
Case studies
Find out how other hospitality businesses are saving water.