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Businesses and hotels told to save water on pressure flows
Flow rates in hotel showers vary from four to an excessive 12 litres per minute, while flushing cisterns vary in size from 6 to 15 litres.
3-star hotels use 199 litres, 4-star hotels use 292 litres, and 5-star hotels use 462 litres per guest night.
Service water used in toilets, showers and wash hand-basins, accounts for between 38% and 86% of hotels' total water consumption, a benchmark study by the Malta Business Bureau has found.
The study is the most detailed set of water consumption benchmarks for hotels and businesses published in Malta to date as part of an in-depth water audit carried out amongst 38 businesses and hotels during 2012.
Apart from revealing current consumption patterns, the audits also revealed areas where a decrease in consumption can be achieved.
Flow rates in hotel showers vary from four to an excessive 12 litres per minute, while flushing cisterns vary in size from 6 to 15 litres.
The study, part of the Bureau's LIFE 'Investing in Water' project recommends standards flow rates of seven litres per minute for shower flows, five litres per minute for wash hand basin flows, and a toilet flushing cistern volume of six litres.
"The benchmarks help enterprises identify excessive consumption and act to correct it. By going a step further and adopting the recommended standard flow rates and flushing cistern volumes, many enterprises could easily save 10% or more, of their current water consumption," hydrologist Marco Cremona, water expert to the project said.
The project is also monitoring water consumption, and following its close in 2014 aims to publish updated benchmarks for water wise businesses and hotels.
The paper reveals that 3-star hotels use 199 litres, 4-star hotels use 292 litres, and 5-star hotels use 462 litres per guest night. Offices consume 25 litres of water per employee per day, manufacturing enterprises 24, and manufacturing enterprises where a number of employees also shower use 46 litres per employee per day.
"Businesses and hotels can use these benchmarks to identify higher than usual consumption and guide their decision to start saving water," project manager Geoffrey Saliba said. "It seems fitting that while the EU is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the LIFE programme, a LIFE project gives something tangible to the community - the benchmarks are our contribution and celebration of 20 years successful environmental funding."
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Perfectly true that some establishments (as well as the great majority of Government departments) need to pull up their socks. I am convinced a number of establishments would have long started introducing economies, both in water and electricity consumption. Remember additional costs comes directly out of their shareholders' pockets. However, in no way does this excuse all the EneMalta inefficiencies outlined by MHRA. After all combating and eliminating these huge Enemalta inefficiencies benefits us all whether as taxpayers and as consumers.
