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- 1. Guide for Sustainable Tourism Best Prac Preface This second edition of the Guide includes an overview of the various criteria currently used by different tourism sustainability certification programs operating in the Americas, thus covering new issues and aspects that have emerged since the edition published in September 2003. The information has been reorganized around three main subjects: the environment, and both sociocultural and economic issues. Each chapter’s theoretical and technical information has been expanded. The Guide has been produced with support from InterAmerican Development Bank Multilateral Investment Fund. Introduction The Guide for Sustainable Tourism Best Practices is meant to be a facilitating tool for community businesses and for small and medium entrepreneurs to adopt specific actions that allow them take the needed steps to carry out and manage sustainable development. Sustainable tourism has been defined by the World Tourism Organization as “satisfying current tourist and host community needs, while protecting and improving future opportunities. It is seen as a guide in managing all resources, in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs may be met, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems.”1 Making a reality of sustainable tourism entails adopting “best practices,” namely, corrective or improved measures implemented in every area of tourist business management and operation. These actions are aimed at ensuring that the least possible impact is caused, that tourist product quality and image are improved, that business development becomes more efficient, and therefore, social and economic development does as well. 1.1 Water 1.1.1 CONCEPTS Water “is the most abundant component on the surface of earth and, in a more or less pure form, makes up rain, fountains, rivers, and seas; it is a constituent part of all living organisms, and appears in natural compounds.”2 For instance, note the percentages of water content for the following items:
- 2. w A growing tree = 50% water. w A woody tree = 75% water w An aquatic plant = 95% water w Tomatoes = 95% water w Apples = 85% water w Melons = 98% water w Potatoes = 80% water3 Water is the most abundant substance on earth and the ideal medium for life. Every ocean, river, and lake has its own specially adapted flora and fauna. That is why most marine organisms cannot live in fresh water, just as fresh water beings would be unable to live in a marine environment. On our planet, the sea is the water resource holding the most varied life forms, from such simple unicellular organisms as protozoa, to giant whales.4 Tapping water resources for different activities, such as energy generation, agriculture, human consumption, and industry, among others, puts pressure on water availability and quality. Throughout this century, global water demand has increased seven-fold, whereas global population has tripled. Currently, the future of water reserves depends on the use we make of this fragile and limited resource. Water shortages could lead to conflicts among users, but may also foster cooperation, as shown today by water partition treaties and multiple agreements.5 1.1.2 IMPORTANCE All living creatures need fresh water; without it, earth would be a lifeless planet. Water is found in rivers, lakes, lagoons, ground sources, and the atmosphere; however, compared to our world size, and considering how essential it is to life, we actually have very little fresh water available: less than 1% of our planet’s total water is liquid fresh water. Although we can live with as little as 5 liters of water a day or less, we usually need much more than that to stay healthy. It has been estimated that a person needs 50 liters or more every day to meet personal and household needs. In developed countries they use much more than this: a daily average of 400-500 liters of water per person6 G u i d e f o r S u s t a i n a b l e To u r i s m B e s t P r a c t i c e s Nowadays, each of us uses 20 times more water than our ancestors, and although this resource may seem abundant to us, it is expected to become seriously scarce in the future if current use trends continue. This is why we must be aware of how we use water and how much we use. We must be responsible for preventing water waste in our home, in our relatives’ homes, at work, and everywhere we go. With just one drop of water leaking every second from a defective or improperly shut faucet,
- 3. we would be wasting 30 liters of drinking water in one day.7 Efficient water use is one of the easiest practices to implement, not only through facilities design features but also through management. Water-saving measures can be taken virtually in all areas of water consumption. The table below,8 developed on the basis of home consumption data, illustrates: HOUSEHOLD WATER USE TABLE Use Categories WATER USE WATER SAVINGS Consumption (liters) Suggestion Savings (liters) Drinking 3 Daily need Toilet 20 Per flush Volume control 5 Brushing teeth 4 2 minutes Shut faucet while brushing 3 Washing hands 2 1 minute Shut off faucet while soaping 1 Showering 200 5 minutes Shower in 3 minutes 80 Laundry 120 1 load Wash large loads 20 Car washing 400 15 minutes Use a bucket 390 Garden watering 250 25 liters x 10 meters Use low-water consumption plants 150 Source: Denver Water Department, Colorado River Conservation District Water-consuming areas and devices in tourist facilities include: w Showers, toilets, and lavatories in public bathrooms, guest rooms, and staff accommodations. Obviously, if guest rooms feature a bathtub or a jacuzzi, water consumption will be much higher. w Laundry rooms. w Kitchens, including rooms for food preparation and cleaning. w General services, such as swimming pools. w Cleaning and maintaining facilities and landscaped areas. 1.1.3 BASIC PRINCIPLES n Finding out, recording, and monitoring water consumption.
- 4. n Rationalizing and reducing water consumption. n Using mechanisms and systems for efficient water use. n Educating customers and employees on the importance of water, and how to conserve it and use it responsibly. n Developing a preventive maintenance program. n Monitoring wastewater and effluent quality. n Using environmentally-friendly water purification methods (controlled amounts of chlorine or, preferably, chlorine-free purification systems). n Keeping files on policies, objectives, goals, records, etc. relating to efficient water use. 1.1.4 PRACTICAL TIPS z A company’s good water use performance relies on carrying out periodic checks and keeping records to learn exactly how much water is being consumed and what the critical water use areas actually are. Additionally, the company would thus be able to find out whether its policies and actions are effective. z Start by keeping track of your monthly water consumption and cost. One way of doing this is by keeping a log that records the basic information appearing on the utility bill, or if you have your own water source, with data collected on a monthly basis. Example of such a record: Date Service Station or Room Observations or Actions Worker in charge Aug/04 Laundry room 285 m3 An 80-m3 increase over last month. Check for leaks Charles Smith z If you have your own water source, always install a meter on the main pipeline and keep track of consumption. z If you can afford it, install meters in each operating area (kitchen, laundry room, guest rooms, etc.). In the event that you cannot do this now, make it one of your future goals. In this way, you will know which areas are generating the highest expenses and take specific water saving measures, which will also make it easier to locate leaks and carry out maintenance tasks.
- 5. z Develop operating plans or guidelines for efficient water use, particularly in performing tasks related to cleaning, laundry, food preparation, swimming pool maintenance, landscaped areas, etc. Some examples are: w Reuse laundry wastewater in facilities cleaning tasks, such as washing walls, etc. w Do laundry only when you have full washing machine loads, and if possible, acquire low waterand energy-consumption washing machines. w If you have landscaped areas requiring watering, leave these tasks for the afternoon or evening in order to prevent water being wasted through evaporation. w Use sprinkler or drip irrigation systems for watering if at all possible. w In sites where conditions allow it, collect and use rainwater. z Consider using special devices to reduce water consumption in such key areas as bathrooms, showers, lavatories, etc. w For instance, an inefficient shower or sprinkler can use up to 20-30 liters of water per minute, whereas an efficient one can provide good water supply with a strong jet spray using only 5 liters per minute. w A central, direct hot water supply (one not using automatic electric shower heads) also results in heating energy savings. z Other measures to reduce water consumption are the following: w Set up a program to check and maintain pipelines and other fixtures. This program should be periodic (once or twice a month), and someone should be made responsible for its follow-up. There is no use in finding a leak if it is not repaired. w Whenever possible, install aerators on faucets where no strong water flow is required (such as in lavatories). w If possible, install low-water consumption toilets; some such devices even operate without water.