Fresh water is a diminishing resource worldwide. The accommodation sector is extremely vulnerable yet capable of reducing its consumption while saving money and assuring a more sustainable future. This workshop enables property owners and operators to develop their individual water conservation plan, resulting in an immediate reduction in water demand from guests, staff and ongoing operations.

1. Water Conservation
Management Workshop
Preparing a Water Conservation Management
Plan for your accommodation facility

2. St. Eustatius Water
Conservation Management
Workshop
Water Conservation Through Corporate Planning
A Water Conservation Management Workshop was delivered by James
MacGregor during the Statia Sustainability Conference, September 25
to 27, 2013 on the Dutch Caribbean Island
of St. Eustatius.
Participants were introduced to the Caribbean, local and
international issues associated with the diminishing fresh water
resources and the important contribution the tourism industry, and
particularly the accommodation and food services sectors can make
to conserving water.
All areas of water use within the lodging facility where identified and
both techniques and technologies where presented to enable the
reduction of water consumption by guests and staff.
In order to assist property owners and operators with their
conservation initiatives, an exclusive ‘planning and auditing
workbook’ was designed to bring the workshop delegates through
each phase of the process of developing a water conservation
management plan. The workbook also served as an operator manual
for ongoing conservation initiatives.
All delegates left the session with their own corporate strategy
which they could start to implement immediately upon return to
their property

3. WATER
Our Diminishing Resource
Water has become possibly the most vulnerable resource on our planet. its diminishing
quantity and quality threatens the very existence of life as we know it. The tourism
industry is a significant consumer of this precious commodity and yet remarkably little is
being done by the stakeholders in this sector to protect and conserve their remaining
sources of fresh water.
Although 75% of the planet’s surface is covered by water, there is remarkably little that is available for
human consumption. Only 3% can be considered freshwater and two thirds of that is bound up in the
polar caps leaving a mere 1% available for our use. Furthermore most of that water is only available in the
Great Lakes of North America and Lake Baikal in Russia.
The projections are discouraging. By 2030 it is estimated that demand will exceed supply by 40%. We
already have approximately 800 million people who do not have adequate drinking water and this can be
expected to rise dramatically in the next two decades.
The tourism sector well undoubtedly continue to increase its demand for freshwater. Tourism volumes
are increasing with 1.6 billion international travellers in 2020 as well as possibly another 7 billion
domestic travelers. Also the demand for higher quality tourism products, water activities and food
services due to an increases in disposable income will require more water than ever. Tourism must also
compete with other industry sectors such as agriculture which will as well require more water to feed an
expanding population.
It’s a shocking fact but if we continue to grow as a population with increasing demands we will need 3.5
planets to maintain us by 2050 when the population is expected to peak at 9 billion. As well as increased
demand by population growth, the depletion of our fossil water sources and ground water will contribute
to a decline in available fresh water. Climate change is also creating new “water stressed” zones around
the world and much of the Caribbean region falls into this category.

4. Water Conservation in the Caribbean
Accommodation Sector
Faced with the challenges of conserving water the Island of St. Eustatius, in the Dutch
Caribbean sponsored an ecoplannet Water Conservation Management Workshop
for both accommodation suppliers as well this other tourism stakeholders.
The workshop was conducted during the annual Statia Sustainability
Conference, sponsored by the STATIA Tourism Foundation that
coincides with each annual UNWTO campaign. The 2013 campaign
focused on water conservation therefore the ecoplannet
workshop was designed to assisting accommodation suppliers to
prepare a WATER CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
PLAN for their facility.
Why conserve water?
Water conservation can reduce consumption by upwards of 40% to
50% in most lodging facilities.
Both the commercial and ethical issues were presented including;
1. COMMERCIAL: Water accounts for 10% of resort utility bills
An assessment must consider consider both water purchase and disposal.
Water conservation leads to lower in water heating costs, a decrease in the use of chemicals and detergents and
wear and tear on equipment. The payback period is typically 1 to 2 years making it an excellent investment.
2. ETHICAL: Resorts, and in particular those on small islands have a responsibility to use only what is absolutely
necessary and ensure that island residents are not deprived of essential water needs
It is also the Environmentally responsible thing to do as it conserves the island/community water
resources.
It can enhance the image of the property and will appeal to responsible tourist but can also lead to
increased visitor satisfaction from all segments. Conservation reduces operating costs especially if the water
comes from an expensive desalination process where it can cost up to $18/m³. Water costs are also increasing faster
than even the cost of fuel so conservation measures taken today will have long-term savings.

5. An average guest can
use up to 700 litres/
day depending on the
size of the resort
Where does the
water go?
Getting Started
- Consider future operational
improvement opportunities
- Walk the facility, talk to
employees;
Guest Consumption
Find out where you are before
determining where to go.
Water consumption per guest
usually depends on the grade and
services of the property. At a threestar facility, guests typically consume
300–400 L/day while a five-star
resort to could see consumption
levels of 500 to 800 L/day. The
average for the Caribbean would be
approximately 700 L/Guest/day.
1. Understand the purpose
for each water use at your
facility,
- Where and when is water being
used? How is it being used and
by whom? Why is the water use
necessary?
2. Employees are your ears
and eyes - they must be part of
the process, and
- Develop a company water
conservation management plan
2. Involve your employees:
Your eyes and ears; They use
the equipment that uses water
Where is your water
used?
- Excellent source of information
on cost effective ways to reduce
all utility costs.
The guest room is responsible for
the major use of water consuming
between 40% to 50%. Other areas
include:
- Provide incentive to identify
ways to reduce water use
- Empower employees to
become part of the solution.
F+B and Kitchens:
17% - 20%
Public toilets:
16%- 18%
Laundry:
19% - 15%
Gardens, landscaping:
4% - 6%
Pool:
5%
Guestrooms
Typical water demand
distribution in guestrooms
without compromising guest
comfort:
Showers…56%
Toilet…….25%
Basin……. 09%
Cleaning…10%
3. Measure + Monitor:
Monitoring water use critical to
good control
2. If you don't measure it, you
can't manage it.
3 steps to begin a
Conservation Program
1. Determine purpose +
need for each use
- Identify uses that are vital to
your operation.
- Wa t e r m e t e r s t h a t a r e
electronically connected to
central information system,
- Read the water meter on a
regular basis
- Plot use on a daily basis and
establish use patterns
- Use sub meters to manage cost
and identify problems in the

6. Workshop Purpose
The workshop is structured to enable each participant to complete the session with their individual 5-year water
conservation management plan based on a 90 page workbook and manual. Furthermore the
workbook enables the participant to return to their property and continue to improve upon their overall plan.
Additional information can be included, employees can participate and ongoing monitoring will refine the available
information. The workshop is designed to encourage maximum participation and collaboration by all participants. Each
individual brings valuable information to the group and there is ample opportunity to share their experiences.
Workshops Dynamics
1. A presentation (by the workshop facilitator) of the technical information associated with each phase;
2. Working in small groups the participants complete each phase of the water management plan
3. Each group presents their results of each phases encouraging feedback from the other participants.
Water Conservation Management Plan Planning Process
The participants are brought through each of the following 7 phases resulting in the final preparation of their
individual Company Water Conservation Management Plan
Phase I: Prepare an Environmental Policy Statement
Phase II: Create an Environmental and Water Management Team and
Stakeholder Partnerships
Phase III: Prepare an Environmental and Water Audit
Phase IV: Identifying Key Environmental and
Water Conservation Opportunities and a Repositioning Plan
Phase V: Prepare a Water Conservation Management Plan
Phase VI: Prepare Management and Staff Training Plan
Phase VII: Develop a Water Conservation Communication Plan

7. Workshop Facilitator: James MacGregor
James has 37 years experience consulting to the tourism sector including national-state-provincial-municipal
governments, private companies, NGO's, indigenous people's organizations and communities. He has been project
manager on more than 400 tourism and economic development assignments. He is an internationally recognized
sustainable tourism and protected area planner and an expert in ecotourism and sustainable tourism development.
Specific knowledge includes: preparation and implementation of sustainable tourism development strategies and
policies, community/regional tourism plans, market analysis, business plans/feasibility studies, green management
strategies, ecotourism, and adventure travel product development, resort and ecolodge planning/construction,
international e-marketing and investment strategies, and sustainable tourism training program design and
facilitation.
In 1992 he established ecoplan:net ltd., which became Canada’s leading sustainable tourism and ecotourism planning,
marketing and training consulting firm. He is cofounder and partner in both ECOadventures Ltd. a leading Canadian
ecotourism and adventure travel company and the Lake Matagami Ecolodge in Northern Québec.
He has published numerous papers and is a frequent keynote speaker, lecturer and workshop facilitator in the
Americas, Asia and Africa. He has delivered more than 270 multi-day workshops to approximately 7000
participants. The Sustainable Tourism/Ecotourism Training Trainer and Green Management Workshop that he
designed and delivered to 11 Commonwealth Caribbean Nations for the Commonwealth Secretariat and the
Bahamas Ministry of tourism was awarded the prestigious 1997 Green Globe Achievement Award from
the World Tourism and Travel Council.
The Sustainable Tourism Development Policies he prepared for the Bahamas received the 1996 Green Globe
Achievement Award. More recently the Morocco Rural Tourism Quality Assurance Program and the Botswana
Green/ecotourism Certification Program were awarded the 2009 and 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
respectively.
He recently designed and delivered a Water Conservation
Management Workshop in St. Eustatius [Dutch Caribbean] and in
September he moderated the Annual Northeast Asia Tourism Forum
in Hunchun, China.
He was Chief of Party for the USAID/Morocco Rural
Sustainable Tourism Development Program and currently
operates a sustainable tourism planning and economic development
consulting practice in Morocco.
For information on this and other workshops please contact:
James MacGregor, jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com