Water is a finite and increasingly scarce resource across the globe. It’s imperative to life as we know it, yet as many as one in three people do not have access to clean drinking water.
Naturally, this has led to stricter regulations and societal pressures for businesses to implement strategies and tools that reduce water usage and promote conservation.
This is why smart water management is an especially critical consideration for water-intensive businesses like hotels and resorts, fitness and wellness centers and multifamily properties. In fact, strategic water usage and advanced technologies have transformed water management into an invaluable competitive advantage for sustainability-minded businesses.
While many property owners and managers are seeking solutions that support conservation efforts first, it's a bonus to learn that most tools also enhance operational efficiencies and even reduce property costs.
Let’s take a closer look at the technologies available today:
• Sensors and Advanced Monitoring Systems: Real-time leak detection and usage analytics are essential tools for identifying inefficiencies and preventing costly water loss. These systems offer granular insight into water usage patterns, enabling properties to act quickly when issues arise and mitigate risks.
• Smart Irrigation: Weather-adaptive systems automatically adjust water use based on real-time environmental conditions. These tools optimize landscaping needs and minimize waste while ensuring regulatory compliance with local water use mandates.
• AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance: AI can analyze usage patterns to forecast maintenance needs, avoiding disruptions and ensuring water systems remain safe and operational. Predictive analytics also allow for the optimization of water distribution across facilities.
• Smart Water Meters: Used in multifamily housing, these meters can monitor individual unit consumption, enabling better resource allocation and empowering tenants to reduce their water usage.
• Efficient Filtration And Recycling Systems: Technologies like pool water recycling and advanced filtration ensure that water is safe, clean and reused effectively, reducing overall consumption and operational costs.
Water management technologies can reduce water waste and support sustainability goals, which are particularly important for properties looking to meet ESG criteria. And while water conservation is a top priority for many properties, we can’t forget about complementary factors like water safety and compliance.
Proper water filtration and real-time monitoring systems ensure safe and clean water, reducing risks to public health. For instance, in properties with high water demand, robust filtration systems mitigate contamination risks in water features like pools and showers. Real-time monitoring capabilities provide instant access to information on water quality, temperature and chemical balance to ensure any issues can be identified and addressed as quickly as possible.
Local, state and federal regulations surrounding water usage and safety are becoming more complex. Properties leveraging smart systems for reporting and monitoring can proactively address regulatory requirements and avoid penalties like fees or even property shutdowns.
Morally, we know why smart water management is important. The reduction of water waste has a significant environmental impact, and we have a social responsibility to support the communities in which we do business by conserving our shared resources.
Additionally, there are competitive and economic advantages to smart water management, like the operational savings of reduced utility costs and maintenance expenses, proactive compliance with water-related policies and incentives and market differentiation amongst eco-conscious consumers.
However, integrating new technologies into existing workflows can be overwhelming.
Here, I've outlined a few strategies for realistically bringing smart water management tactics to your property:
• Strategic Investment: Educate yourself on the technologies available and focus on integrating solutions that deliver measurable ROI, such as smart meters and predictive analytics tools.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Educate employees, guests/residents, partners and other stakeholders about the importance of smart water management and the systems in place. This encourages adherence to your management practices and strengthens brand trust.
• Scalability: Ensure that water management strategies can be implemented across multiple locations or properties, if applicable. A scalable approach maximizes the impact of smart technologies and streamlines compliance.
By investing in innovative technologies and adopting best practices, properties can streamline operations and reduce costs while addressing one of the most pressing global challenges: water scarcity. Whether in hotels, gyms or apartment complexes, smart water management is a strategic imperative that delivers significant value.