Water is a moderately priced commodity, which helps explain why it is routinely wasted in large quantities. It’s estimated that up to 20 percent of the available drinking water in the world is flushed down the drain. Still, the idea of waterless urinals, low-flow or dual-flush toilets, and low-flow showerheads has been around for a few years, and the potential savings from using them can be surprisingly large—if often overlooked.

Older toilets consume as much as seven gallons per flush. Newer low-flow toilets consume as little as 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). Multiply that reduction of water waste by the number of toilets in your resort’s lodge, or the number of rooms in your resort’s hotel. That’s a lot less water.

An even better conservation option is the dual-flush system. These are not new, and most managers are aware of their existence. But the reduction in water waste can be astonishing. These toilets use either .8 or 1.6 GPF, depending on the waste that needs to go down the drain. It’s estimated that dual flush toilets can save 67 percent more water than 1.6 GPF single-flush toilets. TOTO USA, American Standard and Kohler Co. have all come out with their own dual-flush models. Alternatively, dual-flush kits can retrofit any regular toilet into a dual flush toilet for a fraction of the cost.

What about waterless urinals? Conventional flush-type urinals use one to five gallons of water per flush, depending on their age, whereas a waterless urinal uses zero GPF. Using water to dispose of liquid waste (which is 97 percent water) makes little economic sense, especially as the supply of fresh water decreases or becomes more expensive.

The concept behind waterless urinals is relatively simple. The liquid waste flows through small holes or a grating at the bottom of the bowl into a small reservoir. Inside the reservoir, the waste flows through a barrier of sealant, an oil-like liquid lighter than water, that traps odors beneath it and prevents the waste from being exposed to air. Once underneath the sealant, the waste rests in a cylindrical well around a raised section of pipe, leading to the drainage line. As more men use the urinal, the waste in the well continually flows out through the pipe.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates that waterless urinals cost about $1 per 1,000 flushes. As well, there are substantial savings in valve repairs, waste line cleanouts and water leaks. Most important, a waterless urinal saves, on average, 40,000 gallons of water per year. An average lodge with 25 urinals can reduce its water consumption by 1,000,000 gallons of water each year.

Waterless urinals also improve restroom hygiene, since bacteria and viruses thrive in moisture, but die when dried. The predominately dry surfaces of waterless urinals lessen restroom visitor exposures to airborne bacteria.

Lastly, low-flow showerheads can save a tremendous amount of both water and energy. As one of the top users of water, Americans stand under more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water each year, according to the EPA. Most showerheads have a flow rate of about 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) compared to low-flow showerheads that use as little as 1.5 gpm, 1.0 gpm or even .5 gpm. Low-flow heads can reduce water consumption by 50 to 70 percent, and they require less energy to heat up the water.

The average shower lasts seven minutes, which is about 17.5 gallons of water with a standard, 2.5 gpm showerhead. Reducing the showerhead to 1.5 gpm saves seven gallons of water. Multiple that by the number of rooms in a hotel, and the savings are massive. And low-flow showerheads are both affordable and easy to install.

In short: conservation has never made more sense.