WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

Water and wastewater systems represent essential infrastructure for sustaining the economic
and social viability of a community. Although these systems provide basic public health and safety
to homes, businesses, and industry, they are often taken for granted because of the high level of
service and reliability provided by water and wastewater utilities..

Wastewater – Any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence
- have variety of potential contaminants

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:

Water Systems
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 them.

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.
Wastewater systems for buildings are typically designed to use a gravity flow system. In addition,
pumps are used only when necessary.

Water Heating
For applications ranging from guest showers to washing, hotels need large quantities of hot
water. The cost of heating water almost invariably exceeds 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.

Water Heating Options

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.

Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) collect heat from the air in a building, from the air outside,
or from a source of water.

Water for Entertainment and Recreation

Water is more than just a utility; for some hotels, it is a key element of the entertainment and
recreational facilities of the property

HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR-CONDITIONING

Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems create and maintain the levels of
comfort required by guests and employees. The system upholds thermal comfort by altering and
controlling some factors that influence temperature. The system usually utilizes equipment such
as heaters and boilers in producing heat, chillers and air-conditioning units in producing cold
temperatures, and ductwork with moving air and various air washers and filers in
cleaning the air.
Air-conditioning is the science of mechanically controlling the (1) temperature, (2) humidity, (3)
purity, and (4) movement of the air within buildings and other enclosures.

HVAC System in the Guestroom

The two types of HVAC systems are centralized and decentralized systems. All modern facilities
have systems to convey hot and cool water to cold water tanks in guestrooms.
A decentralized system typically serves a single room or smaller area rather than the entire
building.
A centralized system has a single base location with a chilled water-cooling system that is
responsible for distributing cool air to multiple spaces.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Motivations for Care for the Atmosphere

For environmental issues and actions, companies
and individuals have different motives. Economic
interests, regulatory concerns, business dynamics,
and the dimension of social responsibility are among
these motivations.

1. Economic Interests
Often, the economic aspects of
environmental behavior are both persuasive and
significant. Many environmental policies have
major economic advantages, the conversion of
incandescent lamps into compact fluorescent lamps results, for example, in reducing energy
consumption and by extension, in reducing pollution from power plants that generate less
electricity now. Paybacks will arrive within a few months (reduced maintenance costs due to
fewer repairs resulting from longer lamp life) from such a conversion. Solid waste
management is another example. By introducing a recycling policy, the cost of waste disposal
can be decreased. It is both environmentally and economically advantageous to recycle. It
makes good economic sense to keep a location clean; hospitality companies clearly rely on
the beauty and visual appeal of the natural environment in many locations as a key feature
in attracting customers (and their money).
2. Regulatory concerns
Legislation requiring recycling, water usage limits due to shortages, controls on pollution
and discharges, and other environmental constraints mean that concern regarding
environmental problems is not only good business, it is the rule. From the feasibility stage of
new product creation through operations and renovations, environmental effects must be
discussed all within the framework of regulations. Failure to do so will put new technologies
at risk and lead to fines and penalties.
3. Business dynamics
There are many dimensions on the role of market factors in motivating concern over
environmental issues. In their transactions, there are consumer segments that put a high
emphasis on "environmentality" and pursue this. The demand for ecotourism that developed
in the 1990s is definitely a prime example of this. Second, there are environmental issues that
are important to global tour operators, such as air and water quality and flood protection.
Tour operators have started to demand that the companies they work with comply with the
requirements set by the tourism industry. If major tour operators refuse to do business with
them, operators who discover that economics (cost savings) and regulations offer little
reason to be concerned about the environment will become motivated. Third, the growing
 criteria for supplier/vendor environmental certification by the global business community
through the ISO 14000 set of standards (Environmental Management System) means that
consumers and hospitality companies will be looking for 150 certification from their suppliers.
It is very likely that high environmental performance certification would be a prerequisite for
doing business in the near future, much like sufficient credit and insurance coverage today.
4. Dimension of social responsibility
The relationship of environmental policy with corporate social responsibility is
acknowledged by many businesses, both inside and outside the hospitality industry.
According to its website, Six Continents hotel brand combines its environmental practices
with its corporate social responsibility. Opening its environmental operations manual,
Marriott International acknowledges its duty to protect the environment for its associates,
visitors, and societies. Fairmont Hotel and Resorts, which now includes former Canadian
Pacific assets, has adopted Canadian Pacific's exemplary environmental policy. Accor is yet
another hospitality business that takes a highly positive approach to environmental concerns.
The acts of these businesses exemplify the importance provided to the environment and
social responsibility within the lodging industry.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Sustainable Development Goals and the
Lodging Industry
As the need for sustainability to be a global and multi-stakeholder initiative, the United
Nations released its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a blueprint to create a
better and more sustainable future for everyone. The priorities are aimed at resolving global
problems, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, destruction of the environment,
growth, and peace and justice.

Using the SDG as a guide for hotels to compartmentalize each of their main operating
functions (i.e., housekeeping, sales and marketing, customer service), how can hotels
adapt their current practices accordingly?
 Define and commit
 Alignment
 Develop goals and KPIs
 Revisit business strategy

Advantages of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

It drives growth. Business growth is related, at a macro level, to the achievement of the SDGs.
To sustain their employees, companies need a resilient, efficient, trained, and balanced
workforce from all departments. In the hospitality industry, its employees play a critical role in
contributing to the overall guest experience, so companies must take local action to drive their
long-term growth.

It addresses risk. Having a stable market means the investment entails less risk. Every SDG is a
risk area that challenges the organization and society. Therefore, creating a secure environment
is both a win for hotel investors and management companies to operate in a low-risk
environment in the asset-heavy world of the hospitality industry with long-term management
contracts and a win for the local community to profit from this stable lifestyle.

It attracts investment. Through climate-focused multilateral public funds, both the government
and private sectors have committed cash to projects for the implementation of SDGs. Innovative
financial models have been introduced in the financial sector. For example, BNP Paribas arranges
its bonds as part of its own SDG initiative, where the return on investment of the bonds is directly
related to the stock performance of the companies included in the Solactive Sustainable
Development Goals World Index on socially and environmentally sustainable issues of recognized
leaders in their sectors.

It refocuses on business importance. The hospitality industry is a people-focused

company. The value of the hospitality industry, from visitors, to workers, to stakeholders and
residents, is rooted in building value for others and enhancing the environment in which we work.
Contributing to the SDGs is a good leap toward reassessing values for all stakeholders, as the
SDGs need global effort from various sectors. The SDGs would allow hotels to identify their
aspirational target, encourage stakeholders at all levels, and in the long run, increase shareholder
value.
It increases brand appeal. As buyers become more aware of sustainability problems, the market
for sustainable properties will continue to increase. Booking.Com (2019) in a recent study
reported that 70% of global travelers state that they will be more likely to book an
accommodation knowing that it was eco-friendly, and more than half of global travelers claim
that they are more determined than last year to make sustainable travel choices in the coming
year. These brands/properties can gain an upper hand in gaining more clients by promoting a
brand's or a hotel property's sustainable practices and activities.

It appeals to a broader audience. Hotels are increasingly launching new brands to suit different
lifestyles and relate to different age groups. Despite the increase in demand for sustainable
accommodation, travelers still face obstacles while making sustainable travel choices. In the
same article (Booking.Com, 2019), 37% of respondents do not know how to make their travel
more sustainable. A blue-ocean strategy can be used to concentrate on sustainable factors.

It pays off your commitment. In order to jump-start sustainable transformation, capital is

required at the early stage, but the return is incremental and will ultimately generate long-term
returns. Companies should therefore make real and particularly
complex efforts to attain relative SDGs.

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND RESILIENCY

Safety in the Guest Bath

The guest bathroom is an area of special concern in terms of guest's safety. Some of the problems
relating to protection are:
 hot water temperatures;
 slip resistance of bathtubs, showers, and bathroom floor coverings;
 electrical shocks; and
 proper bathroom construction.

The scalding of visitors in lodging bathrooms has resulted in injury and death. This problem
arises mainly in older institutions due to machine design and service. To avoid scalding, it is
proposed that operators:
 set water temperatures not higher than 120°F (49°C) at the source and 110°F (43°C) at the
tap for guest use;
 separate hotel water systems from kitchens and laundries that supply commercial services,
guestrooms, and locker rooms; and
 install bath and shower valves that provide compensation for pressure and temperature.

Fire Safety
The lodging industry has had considerable success in improving the fire protection of
hotels and in reducing the number and severity of hotel fires. In the late 1970s, an average of
11,500 hotel/motel fires occurred annually. By the early 1990s, this figure had fallen to about
6,000, and the number of hotel/motel fire fatalities had dropped from more than 100 a year to
an average of about 35. This occurred in the midst of a large increase in the number of
hotel/motel rooms. The National Fire Protection Association noted that it was actually a
landmark in the important and unprecedented advancement of fire safety in the lodging industry.
(Chan & Lam, 2013; Stipanuk, 1996)
 Fire prevention, detection, notification, suppression, control, and evacuation are included
in a fire safety program. No fire protection program will ever eliminate the possibility of a fire.
However, a well-conceived and well-managed fire protection program will reduce the frequency
and severity of fires. Lodging industry efforts have dramatically reduced injuries from lodging
fires over the past decade. In addition, the number of lodging fires dropped drastically during the
same period.

Fire Prevention
Fire prevention is the work of everyone. It is clearly related to maintenance, but all
departments and operations of a property are pervaded by fire safety itself.

Fire Detection
By human observation, fires are also first observed. Nonetheless, fire detection methods
that function independently of human presence are needed. These techniques include heat
detectors, smoke detectors, and detectors for sprinkler activation.
Heat detectors respond to a location's absolute temperature (fixed temperature detectors), to a
space temperature shift (rate-of-rise detectors), or a combination of the two (rate-compensation
detectors). They are likely to be used where, such as in dusty areas, the use of smoke detectors
would be troublesome.
There are two types of smoke detectors. When smoke particles either scatter or block light,
photoelectric detectors are activated. lonization detectors contain a small quantity of radioactive
material which establishes an ionized airflow in the conductor between charged electrodes.

Fire Notification
Notification covers all means that are used not only to warn visitors and staff about a current
fire but also about the proper protocols to be followed in the event of a fire. Notification is
achieved in many ways, each of which needs some care and consideration for maintenance.
Elements of the framework of alerts are:

 instructions for emergencies and floor plans;

 construction of horns and alarms;
 speech alarms, visual alarms, and devices for contact, single-station smoke detectors; and
 lights for the exit.
Fire Suppression
Despite the active efforts of designers and operators to minimize the number of fires,
outbreaks of fires still occur in hospitality establishments. Therefore, it is important to have
sufficient equipment for fire suppression and control, to know how to use it, and to maintain it
in proper operating conditions.
Tools for fire protection include sprinklers, standpipes and hose systems,
portableextinguishers, and other associated equipment (eg., fire pumps, emergency generators,
and hoses).
Fire Evacuation
The risk of evacuating the facility is real and must be prepared for accordingly. The evacuation
and reentry process should happen as quickly as possible. Although it is not possible to address
all aspects of such plans in depth here, plans should include:

 designation of staff members to monitor the transfer of visitors to exit stairwells, exit steps,
and pre-arranged assembly sites;
 designation of assembly locations for hotel workers outside the building;
 preparation of registered guest lists and their room numbers, as well as one duty personnel,
in the event that all building occupants need to be accounted for;
 designation of members of staff to ensure that visitors with special needs, such as those with
physical disabilities, receive information and special treatment as necessary;
 designation of people to meet employees from the fire department and provide any support
and information they need; and
 instructions for securing cash and other items of money.
Security
A hotel that maintains a high degree of security does so via a combination of facility design
and management techniques. Physical facilities built with security in mind help limit hotel access
only to guests. They are intended to inhibit forced entry, allow monitoring of entrances and exits,
and provide adequate illumination. Management activities that enhance security range from
developing protocols to guarantee guest privacy, maintaining appropriate records to meet
security-related needs, and adhering to procedures that strengthen property security.
Several architecture and operational features should be considered to reduce the potential for
security issues at hotels. They include:

 providing guests with details on property protection and guests' safe conduct
 installing guestrooms with doors that automatically self-close and lock;
 installing deadbolt locks on the connecting doors on both sides; and
 ensuring that there is a way of locking operable guestroom windows and sliding glass doors.
Traveler Safety Tips
1. In a hotel or motel room or any accommodation room, do not open the door without verifying
who the person on the other side is.
2. Use the hotel's main entrance when returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening.
Close the door immediately and use all locking devices provided.
3. Secure guestroom keys. Do not display them in public or leave them carelessly in restroom
tables, swimming pools, or other places where they can be easily stolen.
4. Avoid displaying large amounts of cash or costly jewelry that may catch the attention of other
people.
5. Do not invite strangers to your place.
6. Place all your valuables in the safe deposit box of the hotel or motel.
7. Do not leave items of value in your car.
8. Check to see if all doors and windows in the connecting rooms are locked.
9. Report any suspicious activity to the management.