1. RAINWATER HARVESTING IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR
GREGORY GIBBS BAKIE

2. WHAT IS RAIN WATER HARVESTING?
The process of collecting, conveying and storing rainwater for future beneficial use.
Rainwater can be stored for direct use or recharged into the ground water aquifer.
For the purposes of this presentation we will be focusing on Rainwater Harvesting for direct use.
Aquifer is an underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs.

3. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
Water is our most vital resource – it supports life and life support systems.
There is approximately 1, 400 km3
of water on earth.
Only 1% is easily available for human use.
This amount will continue to decrease as the world’s population expands.

4. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
Current and future water supplies are being degraded by pollution from:
domestic waste
solid waste
industrial effluent
Agricultural drainage, etc
What does all this mean?
Less water for our needs!
So what is the solution?

5. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
An average person:
6 – 44 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY
An average person needs about 6 – 44 gallons of water per day for drinking, cooking and bathing.

6. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
For a hotel of about 500 guests:
At least 300 gallons of water is needed per guest per day.
This does not account for water needed for:
Irrigation
Kitchens
Laundry Facilities
Toilets
Swimming Pools
Swimming Pools
Spas
With increasing water scarcity, we need an alternate source of water supply to keep our guests happy.
Landscape Irrigation

7. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
Traditional water sources:
Surface waters (rivers, lakes, ponds, etc)
Ground water (water stored underground in aquifers)
Rainwater
Our most viable source is rainwater.
So what is the solution?

8. WHY RAINWATER HARVESTING?
Rainwater Harvesting is:
The oldest method of securing water practiced by ancient civilizations
It has been around for more than 4, 000 years
It is the most simple and low-cost means of water supply
It employs technologies that are generally easy to install and maintain.
The water is free!

9. HOW? Rainwater capture:
Rooftops
Surface runoffs (drains, slopes, pavements)
For this presentation, we will be concentrating on Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting.
So how do we capture this free water?

10. RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM
Components of a Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting System:
Roof Catchment
Gutters
Downpipes & First Flushing Pipe
Filters
Storage Tank
Not all systems will have every one of these features. Systems are designed to suit different environments and purposes. How can this system be used in the hospitality sector?

11. The
Experience
A Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting System was implemented at the Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa in St. Lucia in 2011

12. The Experience Water Challenges:
Four (4) swimming pools including a water park and lazy river.
Pools range in size from 20, 000 – 400, 000 gallons.
10, 000 gallons of water a day is used to maintain pools and for irrigation purposes.
The Water Company shuts down water supply during heavy rainfall.
The Hotel needed an alternative source of water, one that was economical and sustainable.

13. The Experience Rooftops of room blocks used as water catchments.
Each block fitted with gutters and down pipes along the entire length.

14. The
Experience
Roof Catchments, Gutters and Down pipes

15. The
Experience

16. The
Experience
Down pipes lead directly to the underground storage tanks.
Storage Tanks:
Two (2) 8, 000 gallon underground storage tanks.
One (1) on either side of the room blocks.
Built to blend in with landscaping.
Storage Tanks

17. Underground rainwater storage tanks
The
Experience
Underground rainwater storage tanks
Pictures of the two underground storage tanks.

18. The Experience From the tanks the water is send to pumps.
5 HP Water Pump
Structures are built to blend in with the landscaping.

19. The Experience Water is pumped into the pool pump room.
It goes through the Chlorination System.
Again, the structures are built to blend in with the landscaping.

20. The
Experience
The structures are built to blend in with the landscape.
Again, the structures are built to blend in with the landscaping.
Pool Pump Room

21. The
Experience
From the Pool Pump Room, the water is pumped into the swimming pools.
Again, the structures are built to blend in with the landscaping.

22. The
Experience
Rain water from the roof of the surrounding buildings are also pumped through the Sewerage System to the processing tanks.
Sewerage Pump System
Again, the structures are built to blend in with the landscaping.

23. The Experience Sewerage System: Takes in sewerage from the hotel.
Rainwater from the surrounding buildings.

24. The Experience Sewerage System:
Raw sewerage and rainwater is processed to remove contaminants.

25. The
Experience
The end-product, grey water, is distributed to the irrigation system and filtered to prevent the sprinklers from clogging.

26. The
Experience
Water is used to irrigate lawns, flowers and plants on the hotel property.

27. The Experience Advantages for the Hotel:
Reduced cost to maintain pools;
Contribute to the Green Movement by conserving water.
Contribute to the sustainability of water resources on the island.
Address some of the challenges faced with shortage of water supply on the island, particularly when it rains heavily.

28. The Experience The Way Forward: Increase use for grey water.
Increase uses for rainwater, e.g. to flush toilets, maintenance, etc.
Increased sustainability of the project by converting rainwater into potable water and to recognize a greater impact in savings.

29. THE END!
THANK YOU.