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Easy
Guest Rooms, Public & Staff Restrooms
Listen for water trickling that may indicate flush valves that are not closing properly or dripping taps.
Look for damp patches on walls or flooring near plumbing pipes.
Decrease tap water pressure by adjusting individual valves.
Irrigation Systems
Conduct regular walk-throughs to check sprinklers, hoses, and underground systems for leaks or damaged heads.
Watch for wet or boggy areas that may indicate underground pipe leaks.
Check valves and backflow preventers for signs of moisture or reduced pressure.
Remind staff to switch off automatic irrigation in times of rain.
External Pipework
Inspect roof and rooftop tanks, overflow pipes, and solar water heater systems for visible leaks or dripping.
Ensure external pipes are insulated and free from damage or cracks that could leak or burst in cold weather.
Water Meter Monitoring
Record water meter readings at night when usage should be minimal. If meters move, this could indicate hidden leaks.
Compare meter readings between main meters and submeters to identify discrepancies.
Basements and Car Parks
Look for unexplained dampness or puddles near plumbing, fire suppression systems, or floor drains.
Check for dripping pipes or ceiling leaks from upper floors.
Cooling Towers / HVAC Systems
Monitor water levels and inspect for overflow, uncontrolled bleed-off, or cracked basins.
Inspect float valves and make sure automated refilling isn’t topping up water unnecessarily.
Plant Rooms / Mechanical Areas
Visually inspect all exposed pipework for corrosion, moisture, or condensation that may signal slow leaks.
Check valve connections, pressure gauges, and pump seals.
Monitor water tanks for overflow issues or unsealed lids that may cause spillage or evaporation.
Boilers and Hot Water Systems
Check for leaks at connection points, especially around pressure relief valves and expansion tanks.
Look for signs of rust, mineral buildup, or puddles below hot water cylinders.
Swimming Pools & Spa Facilities
Regularly check pool pipework for leaks.
If the basin of the pool is accessible from the back-of-house, inspect it daily for signs of leakage. If not, schedule a monthly leak-detection survey using sonic equipment to pick up the faint sounds of escaping water.
Perform backwashes when it is necessary (as indicated by the pressure gauge), and not as a routine procedure such as once per day. Stop the backwash cycle once the water meets the desired clarity, not after a fixed time. For even better performance, consider upgrading to crushed glass filters which outperform standard sand in terms of water quality.
Ensure that pool showers and footbaths operate on a push button system which is set to a specific time frame of around 10-15 seconds per push.
In spa facilities, implement timer switches for thalasso jets, limiting them to 1-2 minutes, and for jacuzzis, set a 5-minute limit.
Only activate steam rooms when bookings are confirmed, rather than running them continuously anticipating potential use. This will require proactive guest communications. See the guest communications section here.
To minimize water loss in heated or acclimatised pools, employ nighttime covers whenever the pool's shape allows. If physical covers are impractical, explore using non-toxic, liquid surface applications to form a thin layer that inhibits evaporation.
Water Features
Install timers on any decorative water features such as waterfalls or fountains to avoid them being switched on all day, this will reduce water from evaporation and also reduce energy consumption.
Reducing water consumption from toilet flushing
If dual flush toilet cisterns are not possible, consider installing a water displacement device. This can be as simple as filling a 0.5 or 1 litre plastic bottle with water and placing it into the cistern away from any moving parts. Each time the cistern fills, it will consume less water.
Aerator maintenance
A preventative maintenance programme should include aerator maintenance. Limescale, debris and sediment build up can all impact the efficiency of aerators therefore it is not as simple as installing them and forgetting about them.
Ensure a programme of aerator cleaning every 3-6 months forms part of your preventative maintenance programme to avoid guest complaints about water flows. See our SOP for Tap Aerator Cleaning.
Medium
Water-Efficient Guestroom Fixtures
Work with engineering and housekeeping to identify opportunities for installing low-flow showerheads, dual-flush or vacuum toilets, and aerated taps in bathrooms.
These upgrades help housekeeping maintain rooms that are naturally more water-efficient, reducing the need for water-intensive cleaning.
Helps meet sustainability certification criteria as well.
Submeter high-use areas
Installing submeters in operational areas helps to pinpoint where the most water is used, and where the biggest savings could be made. See SOPs on Water Monitoring with and without meters.
Retrofit toilets and urinals
Replace older toilet and urinal models with low-flush or dual-flush versions, especially in public areas. In terms of toilets, the maximum full flush should be no more than 6.5 litres, and in urinals it should be no more than 2 litres per flush.
Waterless urinals
Waterless urinals are increasingly popular, their design ensures that they are odour free, and there are obvious benefits in terms of reducing water consumption. Preventative maintenance of cartridges is essential. Choose manufacturers that use cartridges without vegetable oil sealants to minimise environmental impacts further.
Composting toilets
Popular in eco-lodges or areas where piped water is difficult to come by, composting toilets essentially transform waste rather than flushing it away. They require a waste chamber, an aeration unit, an exhaust system, ventilation and a means for withdrawing the compost when it is ready.
They also require your guests to respect what can and cannot be disposed of into composting toilets and are therefore more suitable to eco-focussed accommodations.
Check this case study from Footsteps Eco-Lodge in The Gambia LINK
Long-Term
Greywater Reuse Systems for Laundry or Flushing
Install greywater systems to capture water from guestroom sinks, showers, or laundry machines, then filter and reuse it for flushing toilets or cleaning.
Particularly effective in larger hotels or new builds where plumbing layouts can support greywater separation.
Reduces dependence on freshwater for non-potable uses.
Swimming Pools
If permits and logistics allow, consider replacing freshwater in swimming pools with sea water.
Poolside landscaping by means of shrubs or fences can act as wind barriers to minimise evaporation.
During any refurbishment, consider reducing the depth of any swimming pools so that subsequent water consumption is reduced. See this case study from the Jardin Tecina in La Gomera, Canary Islands.
Irrigation
Switching to drip irrigation or installing weather-based controls ensures water is used only when and where it’s needed.
Utilize smart irrigation systems to tailor watering schedules to diverse plant types and their specific water needs. The Palm Beach Hotel in Gran Canaria significantly reduced costs and water usage by implementing such a system, you can see their case study here.
Water Features
Consider removing decorative water features like waterfalls and fountains altogether.
Remove any outdoor showers or taps in kids club areas or make them inaccessible to children
