The Junta de Andalucía is negotiating with hotels about the installation of meters in rooms to save water. In addition, it is also studying the possibility of filling swimming pools with seawater. Catalonia has already included this measure in the emergency ordinance due to the drought.
The purpose of the water meters is that those who consume more pay more. And that should prevent water wastage, according to the Spanish newspaper El Correo de Andalucía. The regional Ministry of Tourism is now making progress with the hotel sector on the installation of individual meters. These would be installed in strategic places such as, for example, at the entrance to the bathroom. Installation and implementation of the water meters and associated costs are paid for by the hotel. According to El Correo de Andalucía, this measure will become mandatory when the government declares a state of emergency for drought by decree.
Tourists use more than three times as much water as residents
A study carried out by Emasesa, the public water company in Seville, shows that each tourist or guest consumes an average of 350 litres of water. A big difference compared to the consumption of an average resident of Seville. It uses 112 litres.
The regional ministry is “sensitive to the drought in Andalucia. It examines the implementation of measures to stimulate rational and efficient use of water. Therefore, any measure that is implemented will have the support of the sector”.
Filling swimming pools with seawater
But there is another proposal under consideration. This is about replacing almost 100% of bathtubs with showers. This can also save a lot of water. There is also a proposal to fill swimming pools with seawater. In addition, making the reuse of grey water for irrigation universal also contributes. A system for collecting, purifying and reusing water from the laundry and kitchen helps to limit the water shortage.
Reassuring message for the tourism sector
As published by HOSTELTUR, the Andalucian Ministry of Tourism and the Association of Hoteliers of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) have sent a reassuring message to tourism regarding the effects of the drought. In doing so, they assured that there will be no shortage of water for human consumption, despite the restrictions foreseen for this summer.
