Sustainable Extravagance: Water-Wise Hospitality
Currently the biggest socio-economic problem facing the Western Cape region is severe drought and related water shortages. The drought reached crisis levels in early October 2017 when the City of Cape Town estimated it only had 5-months of water left.
It has been ongoing since 2015 when water storage in the city's dam levels began to drop, declining from 71.9% in 2014 to 50.1% in 2015. Declared the city's worst drought in a century, some dams and reserves have less than 10% of their usable capacity remaining. The biggest cause of water scarcity is the El Nino weather pattern with increased water demand due to population growth exacerbating the problem. Since 1995, Cape Town's population has grown from 2.4 million residents to an estimated 4.3 million by 2018, representing a near 80% population increase in 23 years. Dam water storage in the same period only increased by 15%.
In response to the ongoing water shortage, the Hotel Industry in the region has had to embark on various initiatives to mitigate the challenges water scarcity brings to a water intensive enterprise. Studies show individuals can use two to three times the amount of water in hotels than they would use at home.
The current environment has called for innovative measures in finding the delicate balance between complying with water restrictions on one side and keeping or improving quality service and the occupancy rate on the other. The hotel industry has remained agile in dealing with this trade-off, implementing training and awareness programmes across the value chain and Cape Town continues to welcome international and local travelers despite water crises.
Through primary research HVS sought to gather information on how the industry struck this fine balance. By and large, the anecdotal findings suggest that hotels in the region have embraced the challenges of water scarcity.
Discussions and Findings
A survey was sent out to over 100 hotels in Cape Town and the Western Cape. From hotels in the CBD where there is no possibility of acquiring a borehole to establishments in the Winelands requiring an increased amount of irrigation for vineyards and others located along the Garden Route facing ecological challenges- many different water restriction scenarios were probed.
Nonetheless, all the respondents stated they comply with the location applicable water restrictions and did not have a municipal water consumption increase month-on-month, even though they are reaching peak occupancy levels at this time of year.
Use of marginal resources
Two respondent hotels were already completely off the grid and another hotel is planning to be fully self-sustainable in the very near future. Even one of the big hotel chains in South Africa has announced that four of their establishments are being considered for off the grid, stating there are discussions currently happening with "various city partners around desalination plants and alternative water augmentation".
There is one lucky city hotel which has a Table Mountain spring running through their property which has been used over 100 years for their laundry, to top up the pool and soon to flush all their toilets.
29% of respondents are not using marginal resources at the moment, but a further 24% have applied to drill a borehole or are actively reviewing the availability of ground water. Another 18% are mainly investigating rainwater harvesting systems.
The biggest problem with switching to ground water, as one respondent succinctly put it, is "[the] legal process to register and legally [...] use this source of water takes several months, time that we don't have.".
Water metering and cost
Through water metering and frequent checks, possible leaks and high consumption areas can be identified and remedied. 76% of all respondents have been able to reduce theirmunicipal water consumption. The One & Only has managed to cut their water consumption by 25% and Spier by over 50% in the last six months. Even Hotel Verde, known to be an environmentally conscious establishment (previously using 65% less water than regular hotels), has managed to decrease their meagre consumption by a further 27.8%.
Two hotels in the city centre are installing water meters and dashboards to closely monitor individual consumption against certain targets.
Even though consumption has decreased, 24% of the respondents experienced an increase in cost of water to the business, some by up to 20%. The problem is "[w]e are using far less water [but] the price per KL has gone up substantially [...] the net result is not cost saving to the business.". 18% of respondents, however, did see a decrease in water expense to the business.
New storage facilities
24% of all respondents have new storage facilities, including 10,000l, portable, static and rainwater tanks and a further 12% are planning on purchasing new/improved storage tanks soon.
Tanks can overflow if the electronic warning systems fail but this is far outweighed by the benefits harvesting grey water.
New devices
While over half of the respondents had already installed water saving devices like low flow shower heads in guest rooms, flow restrictors, aerators or sensor taps on all taps in guest and public bathrooms, kitchen and bar areas and waterless urinals. 6% are currently installing some of these devices and 12% are planning to in the near future. Bearing in mind the rising cost of water per kiloliter, perhaps they will have to go further in future. One respondent has purchased an atmospheric water generator that collects water vapor in the air, condenses and filters it to produce potable water. This water is so pure it is then sold as bottled water in the restaurant.
Ellerman House in Cape Town even installed a device in every guest shower which counts down and warns guests when 2 minutes are up.
Greywater systems
47% of the establishments which responded to our survey already have grey water systems in place. One of them is a recovery system that utilises the laundry water, for irrigating gardens. Another establishment installed two grey water systems: one that treats and stores water from the kitchen and a number of rooms and is being used to flush public toilets in the banquet area and water the gardens. The second system recycles swimming pool backwash water for reuse in the pool. Some hotels in the Cape Winelands managed to recycle almost 100% of their grey water to irrigate vineyards and gardens.
Budgetary constraints
The installation of new systems, the purchase of new devices or drilling a borehole are large expenses for businesses and were previously not included in the budget. Two separate establishments stated that they incurred expenses of R250,000 or more over the last six months, which have not shown a reciprocal saving in reduced costs. This substantial investment is, however, sure to prove its worth in a lasting period of drought.
Changed procedures
All the respondents have changed their operational procedures in different ways.
In the bar and restaurant area defrosted ice from machines, buckets and fridges is being collected and reused to water the gardens, pot plants or vegetable patch. Sinks to rinse and wash are only filled half way and rinsing water from fruits and vegetables and dishwashing water is being kept and re-used.
All hotels who use disposable napkins cited reduced laundry as a primary reason. One group of hotels stated that they are even trying to eliminate the use of table linen whenever possible. And one 'sensible' establishment is suggesting saving water by drinking their wine.
88% of our respondents have made changes in the housekeeping department: including purchasing water saving washing machines, only washing with full loads and encouraging guests to re-use their towels and linen. Some establishments have outsourced their laundry or changed over to a more water-wise supplier. The majority of all respondents have removed their bath plugs or added a tag onto the plug, encouraging guests to take a shower instead. Ellerman House in Cape Town has made a point of only changing linen and towels every 4th day.
94% of Respondents have made alterations for their pools: covering them to counter evaporation, not refilling them automatically or closing them entirely. Spier has closed 6 of their 7 pools- the remaining one operates from harvested water. The only problem arises when guests would like to use the pools during hot weather however most guests show understanding. Another establishment says that their steam room is closed to avoid water wastage. Some other interesting practices include planting water-wise vegetation, closing off or reducing pressure on less-used taps inside and outside the building, low-drip irrigation systems under the lawn to reduce evaporation and making use of an environmentally friendly disinfectant called Eco-Lyte that itself is 99% water to reduce dishwashing cycles.
For most hotels these new practices and procedures are being adopted well by their staff, and the water crisis is being mentioned at every staff meeting.
Insurance and economic policy
Many respondents have insurance or an economic policy for business continuation in place but the question remains: will the businesses be covered under those policies if the drought can be viewed as a natural disaster.
Awareness Campaign
100% of Respondents have water-saving awareness campaigns running for guests and staff via several channels including welcome letters, tip cards, posters, TV displays and during check-in.
However, campaigns can only do so much when they run counter to expectations: "It can be a challenge to [get] international guests to cut back on water use as they view staying at a hotel as a luxury experience and want all of the trimmings." said one Respondent.
challenge to [get] international guests to cut back on water use as they view staying at a hotel as a luxury experience and want all of the trimmings." said one Respondent.
Going forward
Innovation is clearly going to be the deciding factor. How can we give guests more while using less?
Here are some sterling recommendations from Respondents:
"Invest in low-flow fittings and other technology now to reap financial rewards in the long run." – Hotel Verde
"Analyse your operational consumption, focus on habits as this is easy to accomplish, gather data and implement water management project to reduce the high consumption areas. Recycle as much water as you can for alternative uses and communicate continuously without fail." - Spier
"Start thinking innovatively to come-up with new, fresh ideas to prevent this crisis from extending any further."
94% of the survey respondents stated that the period of drought has permanently changed their business practices and personal habits. It's these personal habits - small, daily measures by staff and guests - that will make the biggest difference the longer this crisis goes on, but to solve it we'll need world-class innovation.
Wesgro is proud to announce that Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau has secured the International Water Association's (IWA) 2018 Water Loss Conference. Speaking on the subject, Western Cape Opportunities Minister Alan Winde said, "The water crisis presents an opportunity for innovative solutions, and I am looking forward to the recommendations which will emerge from the IWA's 2018 Water Loss Conference.".
Implementation of those recommendations won't be left to individual hotels alone: "FEDHASA Cape supports the Western Cape Province and the City of Cape Town's Water Saving initiative, they signed a pledge which will be displayed in their respective properties for all to see and be reminded that Cape Town hotels are doing what's necessary to conserve water. In addition, FEDHASA Cape will also establish a 'Water Task Team' to assist members to, among other things, develop a water wise policy and implementation plan for their businesses, as well as assist with the capturing and monitoring process."
It's time for everyone to pull in the same direction: with the drought heading into its second year, there is no excuse to be wasteful. Learn where you can reduce, save what you can recycle and continue forming habits that respect every drop.
