|
You should also review these general guidelines and best practices for managing water throughout the hotel.
Guest rooms offer some inexpensive ways to conserve water. They are one of the most visible areas for conservation practices insuring that the hotel is getting the most promotional "bang for the buck." The following suggestions further your water conservation efforts:
- Set up a linen reuse program.
The most basic option for guestrooms is the linen reuse program. Informational cards should be available in the guestroom and in the bathroom stating the hotels linen reuse policy. Most hotels that have a linen reuse policy only change sheets every three days unless the guest requests that the sheets be changed or the housekeepers notice that the sheets need changing. Towels that are hanging on the racks shouldn't be changed. Only replace the bathroom towels that are on the floor.
- Check for leaks in the toilets.
Toilets account for 50% of the water used in a bathroom. A basic step to conserve water is to check the toilets for leaks. To check for leaks, remove the lid from the toilet tank and remove any colored cleaning agents, flush to clear the water in the bowl, then drop one leak-detecting dye table (or five drops of food coloring) into the tank and wait 15 minutes. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl without additional flushing, there is a leak. Even a small leak can cause 40 or more extra gallons of water to go down the drain. That amounts to 1,000 gallons of water a month, even in a room that is not occupied.Train housekeeping staff to report any leaks to maintenance as soon as possible.
- Replace toilets with low-flow toilets.
Toilets purchased after 1994 should be low-flow and use less than 1.6 gallons per flush. To verify, look for a stamp or sticker (UPC or IAPMO) which indicates the gallons per flush. If you have the old-style toilet, modifications can be made to lower the amount of water used.
- Replace sticking toilet handles.
Replace toilet handle if it sticks in the flushing position. This causes a running toilet and can waste hundreds of gallons of water per hour.
- Use a displacement bag in toilets.
A displacement bag can save about one gallon per flush. Displacement bags are available from most hardware, plumbing and home stores. Simply fill with water and place in the tank. Check tank frequently to make sure there are no loose objects inside the tank that may be interfering with the operation.
- Install variable-buoyancy flappers.
Variable-buoyancy flappers and flap actuators that ride on the overflow tube are another opportunity for greatly increasing the efficiency of older toilets. These devices are designed to make the flapper close before all the water rushes from the tank in to the bowl. At the same time, they maintain the same force of the water that does rush through. If a variable-buoyancy flapper is put on a toilet that uses 5 gallons and is set at 2 gallons, all 5 gallons are still moving downward once flushing starts, but the flap will close while 2 gallons still remain in the tank.
- Install low-flow showerheads.
Showers and baths account for about 30 % of the water use in a bathroom. Replacing old showerheads that use 3 or more gallons per minute (gpm) with new ones that use 2 gpm or less can make a significant difference in the amount of water used per room. Replacing the old shower head will not only save water, but also the cost of heating hot water.
- Maintain optimal system pressure.
Test system pressure to make sure it is between 20 and 80 psi (pounds/square inch). Water efficient faucets and showerheads will not operate efficiently if the pressure is not correct. If the pressure is too low, low consuming devices won't work properly. If it is too high, they will consume more than their rated amount of water.
- Check for leaky faucets.
A leaky faucet that drips one drop of water every second for a year wastes 2,700 gallons of water. If hot water is leaking, there are additional energy costs. A visual inspection of all sinks on a monthly basis must be part of the preventative maintenance plan. Replacing a worn washer or "O" ring usually solves the problem.
- Install aerators.
Water usage in faucets can also be reduced by using aerators. First, check the amount of water flowing from each faucet. Open the faucet to full force and fill a container for 10 seconds. Multiply the amount of water in the container by 6 to get the amount of water per minute flow. In the bathroom a 1.5 to 2 gpm aerator will provide enough water for shaving, hand washing and other personal hygiene tasks.
|
