Conservation Program Saves 35 Million Gallons of Water Per Year in Hillsborough County

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Some Hillsborough County and Tampa hotels and motels participating in the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (C.H.A.M.P.) received special recognition at a recent Hillsborough County Hotel and Motel Association’s monthly meeting.

Heidi McCree, Governing Board Vice-Chair and Hillsborough River Basin Board Chair ex officio, congratulated the participants for taking an active role in conserving water.

During 2004 while participating in Water C.H.A.M.P., Hillsborough County and Tampa hotels and motels saved 35 million gallons of water. Based on the city’s and the county’s potable water rates, that translates into more than $180,000 in savings per year to participating hoteliers. Sixty-two hotels and motels in Hillsborough County and Tampa currently participate in the program, and new hotels/motels are constantly signing up.

Participating hotels in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties saved a combined total of more than 100 million gallons, which is equal to the amount of water used by 2,200 residents for one year based on the District’s water use estimate of 124 gallons per person per day.

Water C.H.A.M.P. is a “linens and towels reuse program,” which means hotel/motel management agree to launder linens every third day of a guest’s stay, unless the guest requests otherwise. This practice has become highly popular in the hotel industry because it can amount to significant savings in water, energy, chemicals and labor costs.

To learn more about the Water Champ program visit the District’s web site at WaterMatters.org.