Sustainable Traveller Series: How — and Why — to Save Water While Travelling
Written by Jess Tyrrell
For many, holidays are synonymous with water. Be it laying poolside with a margarita in hand, swimming in the azure waters of a tropical island, exploring our ocean’s bounty while diving, or cruising down a winding river as the sun bids a colourful farewell over the horizon. Not only is water mesmerising to look at and immense fun to explore, but it also has a much more profound function in our everyday lives.
From the waterways of glistening wetlands to the azure waters lapping the Indian Ocean to the more discrete underwater rivers in desert climates — water is a crucial resource for supporting all life on earth, and is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems — and a healthy you.
Your water footprint
Despite how crucial water is, it is still a limited resource — only 1% of all water on earth is suitable for human use —, with large portions of the global population — 1 in 3 people — not having access to clean drinking water. With climate change, growing populations, higher standards of living, and water-intensive farming, the availability of freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce. Saving water is an incredibly important part of protecting our planet for future generations.
But what does this have to do with travel, you may ask? Well, you’ve likely heard of a carbon footprint, but have you heard of a water footprint?
Your water footprint when travelling is the total amount of water used during your trip—including the water used at your destination for personal hygiene and laundry, water used in food production, and other sources of water consumption. Tourists tend to flock to destinations in the driest months of the year, putting immense pressure on local infrastructure and municipalities to meet demand. What’s more, 1 tourist consumes 3 to 4 times more water per day than a permanent resident, especially in low- or mid-income countries which may already be water-stressed. The water used for tourism turns into wastewater, and many countries simply don’t have the infrastructure to correctly process this, leading to many hotels dumping their wastewater into open waterways, such as the sea.
When it comes to travelling, it can be easy to forget about the importance of conserving water. However, there couldn’t be a more fitting time to be mindful of your water use.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do as a traveller (and even in your everyday life) to protect existing water sources in the places you visit, thus in some part contributing to a more sustainable way of moving through our precious and beautiful world.
Read on for 5 tips on how to save water while travelling!
1. Research the status of water in your chosen destination, and opt to stay in an accommodation that prioritises water conservation
There are plenty of incredible stays that have a sustainable approach to conserving water. Sustainable hotels approach water conservation by using water-efficient fixtures, such as low-flow showerheads and toilets, and using water-management systems, such as greywater systems to collect and reuse water from sinks, showers, and other sources.
Sustainable hotels also use water-saving landscaping techniques, such as planting native plants that require less water than non-native plants.
They also educate their staff and guests about the importance of water conservation, and emphasise not restricting the availability of drinking water to neighbouring communities. Viatu, scores our partners on their water management practices, making it easy for you to book a responsible spot.
2. Be water-wise In your hotel room
Avoid taking baths — rather take shorter showers. Generally, a shower requires less than half the amount of water a bath requires, making it a much more efficient option for saving water. In addition, showering uses less energy than bathing because it does not require the same amount of hot water.
Turn off the tap — or faucet — when brushing your teeth and shaving. Leaving the tap running can use up to five gallons (18.9 Litres) of water per minute. By turning off the tap and only turning it back on when you need to rinse, you can save a lot of water.
Reuse your bath towels rather than asking for fresh towels every day. Asking hotels to not clean your towels every day prevents the hotel from having to use water to wash the towels and the energy to dry them. This can result in significant water and energy savings (double positive whammy!).
3. Bring your own water bottle and coffee cup
Pollution is also a big part of water conservation. One of the best ways to conserve water while travelling is to bring a reusable water bottle with you. Not only will this help you avoid having to constantly buy single-use plastic bottles, but it will also help you save water. By filling up your reusable bottle with tap water, you will be able to avoid having to purchase bottled water, which is not only wasteful but also more expensive.
4. Eat plant-based, locally-sourced and seasonal food
Eating plant-based food reduces water consumption while travelling because plants require much less water to grow than animals do. Since it takes much more water to produce animal products than plant-based foods, eating plant-based foods while travelling helps to conserve water and reduce water usage. Additionally, plant-based foods tend to be lighter, requiring less energy to transport, further saving water and reducing travel-related water consumption.
Local and seasonal food is produced locally, meaning it does not have to be transported from far away, which reduces the energy and water used to transport it. Eating seasonal food that is locally produced also reduces the amount of energy used to store and process the food, and it reduces the amount of plastic used to package it. Eating seasonal food also reduces water consumption because it is often grown using less water, such as through rainwater harvesting or drip irrigation.
5. Choose your activities and excursions mindfully
Tourism activities that require large amounts of water, such as swimming pools — that aren't sustainably managed—, golf courses, and ski resorts, can strain water sources. These activities often require more water than is available, leading to overuse and depletion of local water supplies. Water sports and boat tours can also pollute water, further damaging water sources. On the other hand, some activities are more water-wise than others. For example, eco-tourism activities such as walking tours, bird-watching, cycling and nature hikes are great ways to explore and appreciate the beauty of nature without using much water. Cultural tours are also an excellent way to learn about different cultures and history without needing much water.
By following these simple tips, you can help conserve water and do your part to reduce your environmental impact while travelling. Every little bit counts, so start small and do your best to be water-wise on your next trip!
Keen to learn more about how you can book your next sustainable adventure? Check out our website, browse our trips and explore our sustainable destinations in our blog!
