Being high-volume water users, hotels are always looking for new ways to reduce their water consumption, especially in areas where water supplies are scarce—such as in large portions of the western United States.

One water-saving method that has become near-eliminated is the daily washing of linens and towels. If linens and towels can go another day before washing and replacing, ask them to hang up towels for reuse vs. leaving them on the floor to receive freshly washed ones.

This has helped reduced water consumption. However, many larger hotel properties are looking for more ways to reduce water consumption. Two systems that are being incorporated and explored are xeriscaping and installing waterless urinals.

Changing the Landscape

One water-conservation step hotels take is planning or reevaluating their landscaping based on water consumption. For instance, the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, once used most of its water for landscaping. It turned out that the amount used in the hotel's guest rooms is relatively modest. The big culprit was the facility's landscaping.

It has converted to xeriscaping, using low-water-consumption desert plants and ground materials. Now it has reduced water consumption by more than 50 percent. And it's not just at the MGM.

The Bellagio, world-famous for its "front yard" water show, has recently removed more than 20,000 square feet of turf and converted it to rock mulch. The facility has also transformed the watering system used on more than 1.5 acres of the shrub-landscaped area from overhead spray irrigation systems to drip irrigation. These measures have helped the property save a considerable percentage of its landscape water use.

Waterless Urinals

A second step hotels are taking to conserve water is installing no-flush urinals. Before 1989, urinals used about three gallons per flush (GPF). This was reduced to about 1.5 gpf with urinals installed after 1989, and today, urinals are required to use about one gpf or less for new construction. 

But this is still a significant amount. It is estimated that just one urinal can use as much as 35,000 gallons of water per year. 

With waterless urinals, urine passes through a trap and sealant. As the trap fills, the liquid flows under the barrier layer and into the conventional drainpipe, allowing the urine to be drained like a traditional urinal works.

This is why waterless urinals are getting considerable interest in all types of facilities, including hotels. And some major hotels, such as Hilton, are now installing them in various properties around the world. Plus, waterless urinals are easy and inexpensive to install because many plumbing requirements have been eliminated.

Concerns and Controversies

Although no one doubts that waterless urinals can save significant amounts of water, there have been some concerns and even controversy regarding how sanitary and environmentally protective they are.  

For instance, when the San Diego Zoo installed more than fifty waterless urinals, officials were quick to comment that poor maintenance could cause hazardous bacteria to build upon the urinal surface, and the chemical cylinders, discussed earlier, could allow dangerous gases to escape.

However, researchers, including Dr. Charles Gerba, a well-known and respected microbiologist at the University of Arizona, dispute these charges. He says waterless urinals are more sanitary because having less water leaves little opportunity for bacteria to grow and because users don't have to "touch" faucets, eliminating cross-contamination.

Although the concerns have resulted in more research and studies, some question whether the plumber's associations may be more concerned with protecting jobs than sanitation. The San Diego County Water Authority notes that when low-flow toilets were first introduced, they were met with similar resistance, even though they are now widely accepted and have recognized standards throughout the United States.

Custodians and hotel housecleaners are sometimes unsure if waterless urinals require special cleaning procedures or products. The answer is no. Waterless urinals are cleaned the same way as a conventional urinal, although the overly harsh, powerful chemicals sometimes used to clean traditional urinals are not necessary or recommended.

Most no-flush urinals have highly polished finishes, similar to flushed urinals. Because no water is used, the rust and water deposits that form on the interior surfaces of traditional urinals do not develop. Urine is less likely to adhere to these surfaces.

Water—Use It Wisely

Water is essential to our health and the health of our environment. It's our most precious resource. Let's use it wisely.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co; Inc, Vista, Calif. Reichardt founded the company in 1991 to establish a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com.