sustainable water use technology in resorts

8/12/2019 Sustainable Water Use Technology in Resorts

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Background

Objective & Methodology

Case study findings Discussion

Conclusion

3/29/2012 2GWTTRA, April 19-21,2012, Portland, Oregon, USA


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DECLINING WATER AVAILABILITYSCENARIO

Climate change Pollution

Poor water management

Higher consumption

Tourism industry



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Why hotels should be wise about water Polluted water bodies affect destinations

environmental quality

Poor environmental quality affects tourismexperience

Corporate Social Responsibility Businesss handling of its own social and

environmental externalities

a corporations commitment in minimizing oreliminating any harmful effects and maximizingits long-run beneficial impact on society.

Mohr, Webb and Harris (2001)



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THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENT

Objective of paper Present a proven technology for resorts in

tropical climate

Methodology

Personal interview, content analysis



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HOTELBACKGROUND

115 rooms

130 staff

Beach resort facingAndaman Sea

Green Team green activities



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A pond filled withplants that are naturalwater recyclers

Like a wetland

Used water frombathrooms ischanneled to theseptic tank before

being mixed withwater from kitchenand passed throughthe man-madewetland system

(Partially) Treated wastewater flows to thewetland for further treatment

Treated blackwater mixed with graywater

From kitchen sinks To treatment tank

blackwater

From bathroom To septic tank



8/193/29/2012 8GWTTRA, April 19-21,2012, Portland, Oregon, USA


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Point 1

Water mimosa (Neptuniaspp): to reduce total nitrogen and phosphorussvalues; absorb organic compounds and suspended solid

Point 2

ThaliaGeniculata: absorbs nutrients and stabilizes the suspended solids.

Point 3

Water hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes): very efficient in removing suspendedmaterials, BOD, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), organic matter and uptake heavy metals (lead, chrome, cadmium, copper, aluminum, nickel, mercury)and pathogens

Point 4

Duckweed (Lemna minor): absorbs nitrates, phosphate, potassium, calcium,sodium and carbon

Vetiver (Veteveriazizanioides): helps to regulate the amount of water and filtersediment-bound contaminants (heavy metals and some pesticides residues)

Water lily (Nymphaea): removes cadmium in the water, help reduce algaegrowth in ponds

Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic Forsskal): provide a large surface area for thegrowth of beneficial micro-organisms that can enhance nitrogen removal.



10/193/29/2012 10GWTTRA, April 19-21,2012, Portland, Oregon, USA


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Neptuniaspp(water mimosa).

a floating aquatic perennialthat roots in the banks orbottoms of water bodies.

Its stems protrude from thewater surface and are filledwith a spongy fibrous materialthat covers the stems.

is used first in water treatment

as its stems are able to reducetotal nitrogen andphosphoruss values; absorborganic compounds andsuspended solids.

has the potential to restrict

water flow in creeks andchannels, so all the suspendedsolid can settle down slowly.

is an edible plant species andhas been traditionallycollected as a source of food.



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Thalia Geniculata, ormore commonlyknown as Bent

Alligator-Flag. This is non-woody

plant that is notgrass, also known as

forb/herb of thegenus Thalia.

It is a perennial plantmeans it will growyear after year. Thisspecie absorbsnutrients andstabilizes thesuspended solids.



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Eichhorniacrassipes(waterhyacinth)

a free-floating perennial plant thatcan grow up to a height of 3 feet.

If left unattended, the specie canbecome a very aggressiveinvader by forming thick mats thatcan cover the entire surface ofthe pond, causing oxygendepletions and fish kills. Therefore,constant care is needed tocontrol them

can be very efficient in removingvast range of pollutants, fromsuspended materials, BOD,nutrients like nitrogen andphosphorus to organic matter.They also have high capacity ofup taking heavy metals like lead,chrome, cadmium, copper,aluminum, nickel, mercury andpathogens.

This is an important attribute of thisspecie as a natural waterrecycler.



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Veteveriazizanioides.

Also known as miraculous grassbecause helps to regulate theamount of water.

Its hard and erect stems canwithstand high velocity waterflows thereby increasing detentiontime. Its thick growth form livingporous barrier that can effectivelyfilter both fine and coarsesediments, as well as sediment-bound contaminants (e.g. heavymetals and some pesticidesresidues).

has deep, dense and penetratingroot system that can reduce andprevent drainage, improve bedstability and nutrient uptake.

highly tolerant to tough climaticconditions and to high soil acidityand alkalinity, elevated levels ofheavy metals such as arsenic,cadmium, copper, chromium,lead, mercury, nickel, seleniumand zinc.

easy to grow and very handy tohave in the wetland system.



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Nymphaea's

has broad leaves thatcan shade the waterkeeping it cool. Thisallows for moredissolved oxygen.

also efficient inproviding hiding

places for smallaquatic creatures.

Nymphaearemovescadmium in the water,helps reduce algae

growth in ponds andadds oxygen to thewetland itself.



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Ipomoea aquatic Forsskalisan edible plant that is afavourite in many parts ofAsia.

Similar nutritionally to spinach,

this swamp cabbage belongsto the same genus as sweetpotato, and a member of themorning glory family.

can be found wild in aquaticenvironments or grown byfarmers in well irrigated fields

as a source of side income asthis specie is a favorite foodwithin many Asian cultures.

Its roots hang down therebyproviding a large surface areafor the growth of beneficialmicro-organisms that can

enhance nitrogen removal. As they float, the specie is

forced to take nutrients andheavy metals from the waterrather than from thesediments.



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Process is easily adopted in other hotelsof similar characteristics

Land space Tropical climate

Requires auditing from monitoring bodies

Requires policy incentives forwidespread adoption



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CSR initiatives should include watermanagement considerations

Best practices exist and can beemulated

But need more research on the use of

plants for water recycling in otherclimates



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sustainable water use technology in resorts

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