Reducing water costs without compromising the guest experience in hospitality

Running a hotel takes a lot of water. In fact, a hotel can use an average of around 1,500 litres of water per room, per day. From showers and toilets to kitchens, laundry facilities, swimming pools and landscaping, water is involved in almost every part of the guest experience.

Yet when hospitality businesses look at utility costs, electricity often receives most of the attention. And with annual electricity spend for hotels now potentially reaching as much as £340,000, that’s understandable. However, for any hospitality venue, it’s important not to overlook water as a utility – both in terms of financial outlay and environmental responsibility.

As utility bills rise, the challenge for operators is finding ways of reducing water costs in hospitality without negatively affecting the experience guests are paying for. After all, a disgruntled customer can quickly lead to lost business in the future. 

How to reduce water costs without affecting the guest experience

The obvious place to start in any hotel or hospitality venue is the bathroom.Showers, taps and toilets can account for around 30–40% of a typical hotel’s water consumption. Installing efficient showerheads, low-flow toilets and tap aerators can play a significant role in reducing consumption without guests necessarily noticing a difference. These technologies are also relatively cost effective to implement.

Next, it’s critical to hunt down leaks that are wasting water on an hourly basis. A dripping tap or constantly running toilet may appear insignificant, but across dozens or hundreds of rooms, those small losses quickly add up. Bear in mind that a single leaky toilet can waste up to 400 litres of water in a single day and the savings that can be made across an entire venue become clear.

Swimming pools are another area worth investigating. They can account for up to 10% of a hotel’s water use.Taking regular sub-meter readings can help operators understand consumption and identify unusual changes. Covering pools when they aren’t being used can reduce evaporation and the need for refilling, while push-button poolside showers can help control unnecessary consumption.

But some of the best opportunities are completely invisible to guests. For example, reviewing laundry processes, kitchen practices and cleaning routines can all save thousands of litres a month. 

In order to get staff on board, operators should work to train employees to identify and report leaks. Smart meters and regular monitoring can also make it much easier to recognise unusual patterns before they turn into expensive problems. 

Sustainability and guest satisfaction go hand in hand

Reducing water use doesn’t have to mean asking guests to accept a lower standard. In fact, environmental performance is increasingly part of how customers judge hospitality businesses.

Around 68% of consumers say sustainability influences where they choose to spend their time and money. Taking meaningful action to reduce water waste can therefore support the values of your customers as well as your sustainability targets. 

It is also worth periodically reviewing business water prices and taking the opportunity to compare business water options. The amount you consume is only one part of your overall water expenditure.

If you’re unsure whether your hotel or hospitality business is paying more than it should, Everflow’s EcoMOT can help.

By looking at how your organisation uses water, we can identify inefficiencies and opportunities to reduce costs – including many changes your guests will never even notice.