limit fertilizer use.
although the Scarlet isn’t in an area
facing water scarcity, the spa and hotel
have prioritized water conservation for
many of the same reasons as osmosis
Day Spa Sanctuary. “it’s one of the
lesser-thought-about initiatives,” clark
says, “because people think that we
have plenty of it” due to 70 percent of
the earth being covered with water.
however, as clark notes, “only about
two percent is freshwater.” the spa’s
coastal location has only made this
disparity even more apparent.
Know Your Spa
not everyone is able to build their own
water-filtering wetlands, and holm
realizes this. however, he offered a
number of tips for reducing water use
that are within reach for any kind of
spa, even a day spa located in a strip
mall or commercial area. “the first
step is to monitor,” says holm, “and
once you’ve gotten some data around
usage, you can begin to implement
changes.” one important aspect of
monitoring is to watch for leaks; see if
your water meter is running even
when your spa isn’t open. if it is,
there’s likely a leaky pipe or faucet.
correcting any leaks or drips is the
easiest and quickest way to reduce
water use.
Switching to low-flow fixtures is
both easy to do and easy to track. at
osmosis, every shower utilizes a low-
flow head. although this brings extra
upfront cost, holm notes that its been
“a good investment for us” because it
has lowered the spa’s water bill.
osmosis also partners with an outside
laundry vendor. although this has
environmental costs of its own, “taking
some of the burden away” from the
tiny town’s water supply more than
outweighs those costs.
Like osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary,
the Scarlet uses low-flow, aerating
faucets and showerheads to reduce
water use without sacrificing water
pressure, and its sensor-equipped
Through its green roof (left), The Scarlet strives to make conservation a seamless part of the
guest experience.
faucets turn on and off automatically.
Subtle Changes with Big Results
holm also suggests thinking carefully
about how products can affect water
usage. Previously, when guests exited
osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary’s
signature cedar enzyme baths, they
brushed off the cedar residue with a
brush. recently, osmosis switched to
using Supracor scrubbing mitts, which
holm says “removes more of the
material before they get into the
shower.” this reduces the amount of
time spent in the shower; plus, guests
are allowed to take the mitt into the
shower with them. holm actually
tested and verified this, too—the
reported time that members spent in
the shower has been reduced by over a
minute since the switch. Guests at the
Scarlet use sarongs when appropriate,
because “they take up less room in the
washing machine and dry quicker,”
says clark, which reduces the spa’s
water and energy use.
encouraging guests to leave
products on their skin, rather than
showering them off, is another way
that products can affect water use. “all
of the products we use are organic,
and we encourage guests to keep
them on and not wash them off
whenever possible,” holm comments.
this simultaneously enhances the
guest’s benefits while decreasing water
use. Likewise, osmosis switched to a
waterless seaweed treatment from
naturopathica. Unlike a traditional
seaweed treatment that requires a
shower, this treatment is designed to
be massaged into the body and left on.
a clear and consistent policy, as well
as guest education, can help reduce
water use by making spa-goers more
conscious of conservation. osmosis Day
Spa Sanctuary’s website features a
sustainability policy, and most guests
who visit the spa do so in part because
of this commitment. however, holm
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