Representatives of hotels in the Central Pacific beach towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos recently met to discuss water-conservation techniques for the area, which continually faces water shortages, at a conference organized by the Central American Biomass Users Network (BUN-CA), according to a statement from the organization.
An increase in tourists to the area during the dry season resulted in periods with no water available, said BUN-CA consultant Agustín Rodríguez.
“This lack of water affects the development of the hotels’ normal activities, and, on many occasions, hotels have had to hire trucks to bring in water from other areas,” Rodríguez said.
Twenty representatives from the area attended the workshop, entitled “Good and Efficient Practices in the Use of Water Resources” and learned conservation strategies such as using low-consumption toilets and showers. Treating and recycling pool water rather than draining it was another suggestion made.
Data obtained at the seminar indicate that some hotels pay more than $2,000 per month for water, another reason to make conservation efforts, Rodríguez said.
The seminar was part of BUN-CA’s Energy Efficiency in the Tourism Sector Program. Hotels that participate in the program qualify for a Certificate of Sustainable Tourism from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the statement said.
