WATER AND
WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 10
Steam and hot water use are an important subcategory of water
use which costs the property not just for the water but also for the
energy used to heat the water. The cost of heat can vary from four
to 20 times the cost of water, depending on the fuel sources used
for water heating.
The hospitality industry is obviously worried about problems with
water and wastewater. As major guest attractions, many resort
operations depend on access to pristine bodies of water. In certain
regions, the expansion of hospitality facilities is restricted by the
availability of sufficient supplies treatment systems. Power shortages
also of water or by the capacity of wastewater contribute to water
rationing in other areas. Water treatment costs are skyrocketing while
quality deteriorates dramatically- even when water sources are
sufficient-as more marginal resources need to be used.
The consistency of these sources is a major concern for resorts and
other installations that rely on wells or nonmunicipal water supplies
WATER USAGE IN THE LODGING
INDUSTRY
The annual water consumption of the world's lodging industry is in hundreds of billions of gallons and costs millions of
dollars. Real use and cost levels of individual hotels differ dramatically by type of hotel, venue, services, and water use
management. These statistics indicate that:
Generally bigger properties use more water per room than smaller properties do. If the level of utilities
and facilities grows, the amount of water use increases.
Further review of water usage data shows that overall water consumption can be greatly influenced by the existence of on-
site washing, kitchens, extensive irrigation, and cooling towers.
Sometimes, utilities presume that the amount of water disposed of in the sewage system corresponds to the amount of
water bought. Not all water used at hospitality facilities, however, enters the sewage system (e.g., water used for cooling
towers and irrigation). Given this fact, many water utilities do not charge for the disposal of water that has not entered the
sewage system.
The deduct meter submits water used for those purposes in order to deduct it from the bill of disposal. The data show t this
would reduce the cost of water used for these purposes by approximately 50% major potential saving. The advantage of
using deduct meters on pools is much more restricted than cooling towers or irrigation, given the relatively low water use
attributed to swimming pools in the same report. This is possibly one of the reasons why just 22% of pool
WATER SYSTEM
01 A number of sources, including manmade or natural sources
such as wells, rainwater collection, reservoirs, rivers, seas, and
the ocean, can provide water (via desalination). Hotel
operations can get their water supply from a water utility near
03 them.
In reality, the construction water and wastewater systems
consist of a number of subsystems with suitable isolation
devices between the subsystems. In order to establish
water conditions suitable for the intended use, each
subsystem must have special equipment mounted. For
example, the property should be able to make the water
pass through a softener and then a water heater
dedicated to laundry application when supplying hot water
for use in laundry.
In building cooling and heating systems, the chilled and
heated water circulated is not part of what is usually
considered to be the building water system. Water is not
potable (drinkable) in such systems.
THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
is active in rainwater disposal. It flows directly to a certain discharge site where
the rainwater joins a river, lake, or other drainage channels. The sanitary sewage
system, by comparison, is interested in the collection of the facility's waste
materials. This scheme transports waste materials to a sewage treatment plant
In the construction of water systems, pipes
made of galvanized iron, steel, copper, water
utility, the property's pumps, or a combination
thereof. The pipes contain valves or plastic
(PVC or CPVC) contain water under pressure.
The pressure is supplied by the that can be
used to separate different elements of the
system and to cut off the water supply to
these elements or the system as a whole.
Other valves, referred to as backflow
preventers, are used to prevent water from
flowing from one subsystem to another; (e.g.,
a backflow preventer or an external hose link
may prevent the water standing in a hose
from re-entering the building water system).
Wastewater systems for buildings are typically
designed to use a gravity flow system. In
addition, pumps are used only when
necessary. This is why the bathroom ceilings
01 are often lower than the ceilings in other parts
of the guestrooms in lodging facilities-the
facilities in the rooms above need space to run
waste lines that depend on gravity flow. Cast
03
iron or plastic (usually PVC) piping systems
are used for wastewater and are designed to
withstand lower pressures than water
systems.
The wastewater systems carrying grease will w through a grease separator (also known as a
grease trap). Mfloost municipal sewage treatment systems require grease removal because
of its negative effect on the operation of waste treatment systems.
Grease separators are mounted in the floor area or sometimes attached to a piece of
equipment.
01
03
Insulated pipes can be used by both water
and wastewater systems. Water system on
cold water piping.A small recirculation loop
of hot water lines may be used by water
supply systems to keep the hot water
01
circulating inside the building's pipes. Doing
this minimizes t likelihood of a guestroom
winding up at the end of a long pipe full of
hot or cold water. Since wastewater systems
rely on gravity flow and are accessible to the
03
end of the user's atmospheric pressure, they
are vented into the atmosphere and have
traps. Traps are water-filled papal parts that
prevent the entry of sewer gases and odors
into the facility.
Sprinklers and fire standpipes provide water schemes for fire safety. Standpipes are used by
the fire department for hose systems installed on the property and for providing hoses. Such
fairly basic systems need little real maintenance, depending on water supplied from the fire
truck's main pump or hydrant.
01
03
WATER QUALITY
Depending on how the water is used, water quality requires a variety of elements that vary in value.
Potability, that is, suitability for drinking, is obviously the most significant concern. For visitors and
staff, potability is of special concern. This includes researching a number of criteria, including the
presence of bacteria, nitrates, trace metals, and organic chemicals in the water. Color, odor,
clearness, mineral content, and acidity/alkalinity are other water quality issues not specifically
linked to potability.
The consistency of the water supply should be periodically checked by any property that depends
on wells, reservoirs, streams, or water provided by small water utilities. A number of complaints
from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been documented as water not
only affects the resort users but also the residents from nearby communities. With this, the local
governments have made the procurement of operations permit stricter focusing on maintaining
water quality and proper disposal and management of wastewater as well.
Concerns over water quality often cover a variety of problems not specifically related to potability.
These issues may be primarily aesthetic (e.g., odor and turbidity) or applicable to water-use
equipment (such as hardness-that is, the presence of dissolved minerals). In general, these issues
are addressed by the use of companies that specialize in water treatment. Specialists are
especially needed when microbial growth in places such as cooling towers is a concern (a topic we
will return to later).
The softening of water in order to minimize high levels of calcium, magnesium, and low levels of
manganese and iron in the water supply is a popular treatment process. In boilers, water heaters,
and heating elements, calcium and magnesium can generate scale (a buildup of minerals).
The degree of softening needed should be calculated by a water quality expert since over-softening
can create pipe and equipment corrosion problems. Since softening requires replacing the
hardness-causing minerals with sodium, except in special conditions, softened water should not be
used for potable purposes.
DISCHARGE/SEWAGE
WATER
There was a time when hotels and
restaurants did not pay much attention
to the amount or state of water they
discharged into the sewage system. It
was only necessary for managers to
ensure that rainwater did not reach the
system and that grease traps worked.
Yet times have changed
WATER
that of the cost of actual water itself. Hot water requirements are potentially the highest for
guestrooms, laundry, and kitchen applications. Major users can also be employee locker rooms
and fitness club services. Both of these needs are theoretically distinct and should be discussed
individually.
There are hot water standards for guestrooms at all hotels. At certain properties, these
requirements can be very concentrated, occurring mainly during the early morning wake-up time.
Using a mix of hot water storage and production facilities, properties usually aim to satisfy these
needs. Some hotels have resorted to raising hot water supply temperatures in order to meet these
focused needs. This is a potentially dangerous strategy because water temperatures above 115°F
or 46°C can scald users.
WATER HEATING OPTION
Choosing from among the different water heating options available requires
making smart decisions about equipment and sources of fuel. Perhaps the most
popular are directly fired water heaters. In many residences, restaurants, and
lodging establishments, these are the standard water heaters. A source of fuel is
burned, and heat is transferred to the water. As a factor of combustion, oxygen
is needed for all fuel sources except electricity. A flue is then sent up to the
combustion gases. Directly fired units can have storage tanks that are central or
distinct.
Indirectly fired water heaters are more likely to be used in steam installations. A coil or heat exchanger enters
the steam, which transfers heat from the steam to the water. In these systems, the steam is usually kept
separate from the water. Since a flue is required only where steam is manufactured (rather than in the water
heater), indirectly fired units can be located in cellars without access to outside air or in similar locations.
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) collect heat from the air in a building, from the air outside, or from a source
of water. To remove heat from the air (or water) and pass it to the water being heated, a HPWH uses a
refrigeration cycle. There is no combustion or need for a flue as the refrigeration system runs on electricity. As
the refrigeration cycle uses less energy than electric resistance heating, HPWHS can provide relatively cheap hot
water. The cooling cycle also transfers heat from electric resistors and gas-fired water heaters with greater
efficiency. HPWHS will very easily pay for themselves, often in less than one year.
WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE CONCERNS
While water systems need periodic maintenance, unless they deteriorate to the
point of requiring significant work or replacement, they are typically not a major
consumer of maintenance time or expense.
The preventive maintenance activities related to water systems cover tasks such
as:
treating water to make it suitable for its intended application;
replacing sacrificial anodes (which minimize pipe corrosion) in water heaters;
washing filters and strainers;
lubricate pumps;
checking how to configure the water temperature; and
checking the pressure relief valves for proper operation of water heaters.
In addition, the repair of leaking valves and general caulking and sealing around fixtures consists of guestroom
maintenance.
A facility manager (and owner) should be aware of the possibility of water piping systems becoming corrosive and
eroding. Corrosion is the degradation of a metal or alloy due to its atmosphere by chemical or electrochemical reaction;
erosion is the literal wearing of the inner surface of a pipe due to friction.
Many kinds of corrosion are possible; leading factors include:
the water's pH level;
the amount of oxygen that is present in the water;
the chemical makeup of the water;
the amount of galvanic corrosion inside (or in contact with) the piping device through the use of dissimilar metals;
and
the temperature of the water.
In order to decide if the water supply is too acidic (or in extreme cases, too alkaline) and needs therapy, facility
managers may measure the water's pH level. Highly oxygenated water also has a higher potential to cause
corrosion (i.e., in recirculating fountains). The chemical composition of water can be very important, with a
variety of different chemicals contributing to the corrosive potential of the water. Salt is corrosive; the
corrosive potential of the chlorinated water used in pools is known by administrators and those concerned with
maintaining swimming pools.
When various metals come into contact with each other, galvanic corrosion happens. Furthermore, as the
temperature of the water rises, corrosion can take place at a faster rate. On the exterior of the pipes,
particularly those that are buried underground, corrosion is also possible. In these situations, groundwater
leakage into the soil/fill around the pipe can occur (especially troublesome is the salt- laden runoff from
streets and parking areas that have been salted to clear them of snow and ice).
In general, guestroom maintenance requires repairing leaking faucets and valves and cleaning of
clogged filters in aerating faucets (i.e., faucets that spray water through a screen that spreads the
flow). When problems arise, either chemically or mechanically, clogged drains need to be cleared.
Maintenance staff should also inspect the tile and caulk around plumbing fixtures when they work on
the plumbing in guestrooms and perform any necessary repairs.
Awareness of the key water shut-off valves, the piping layout for both potable and wastewater, and the
necessary cleanup equipment is needed for emergency and breakdown maintenance of water
systems. At a minimum, such equipment must contain a wet/dry vacuum as well as a pump.
WATER FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND
RECREATION
The Bellagio resort built the "Fountains of Bellagio." Designers, singers, and
performance artists have helped mesh the music with the movement of the water.
The water quality of these bodies of water is clearly very critical for those activities
that take advantage of natural water features such as oceans and lakes. Blue Flag
is an organization founded in Europe with the goal to protect and preserve the
natural characteristics of beaches, marinas, and other marine ecosystems. It
focuses on the following fields:
Water quality
Environmental education and information
Environmental management
Safety and services
SWIMMING POOL WATER SYSTEM
There are swimming pools at several lodging facilities. It is an ongoing task that requires a
considerable amount of time and labor to maintain a healthy and enjoyable pool environment.
The inability to do so can lead to major problems.
Skimming to remove floating debris and vacuuming to remove debris on the bottom are basics
of pool cleaning. To remove dirt, walls, stairs, and other areas should be swept. To prevent
lime accumulation, tiles at and above the water level should be regularly cleaned (using a
suitable tile cleaner and equipment).
Pool water cleanliness requires maintaining a proper water temperature and acidity/alkalinity
balance. Since pool chemistry and temperature can be influenced by the number of bathers,
the strength of sunshine, and the wind and rain (for outdoor pools), maintaining proper pool
conditions can be challenging. Failure to maintain proper conditions can result in the
swimmers' sickness or pain, corrosion of metal pool parts, and leaching of plaster pools.
Establish the acidity and alkalinity by measuring the pH level of the pool with a test kit. The pH
level is supposed to be between 7.2 and 76 (slightly alkaline). Pools naturally tend to become
more alkaline than desired. The pH level can be controlled by treatment with muriatic acid or
sodium bisulfate. Until chlorine is applied, pH levels should be checked, as residual chlorine
levels can affect pH readings.
WATER CONSERVATION
With increasing water prices, declining water supply, and government restrictions on the use of
water, there are many reasons for hospitality companies to minimize water use.
Some things have already been done by the lodging industry to decrease water consumption.
Some steps are common, such as the installation of low-flow showerheads, partially due to the
fact that they often save energy used to heat water. Water reuse measures (known as gray
water) are less common but growing. The use of water recycling with increased pressure to
decrease water use is expected in the future.
Water management activities should be done carefully as to not impact visitors. For
example, one operation received too many guest complaints about the low-volume
Another operation found that, after installing new low-volume showerheads, the poor
showerheads installed in the property that it decided to reinstall the previous
showerheads. state of its piping did not allow it to lift the water pressure high enough to
properly operate the shower heads! Before installing new devices in the property,
managers considering using water conservation devices should try a few as a test, track
the outcomes, and assess the results.
With little effort, water use can also be minimized. Conservation steps can be very useful
for managing landscape irrigation, installing foot- operated faucets in kitchens, and
performing simple maintenance on water systems.
THANK YOU!