Sustainable water management has become an essential aspect for ensuring human well-being and maintaining environmental balance. In Spain, The importance of water consumption is becoming critically important due to the drought situation, which has prompted the implementation of savings measures to improve their management.

Within this context, at Polaroo we have prepared the report 'The consumption of water in apartments and tourist housing in Spain' with the objective of analysing water consumption in the vacation rental sector in the country, at the same time as exploring strategies and innovative technologies To win efficiency in management of this vital resource.

To do this, different sources of information have been used and an exhaustive analysis of more than 1,800 properties for tourist rental and more than 11,000 digitized invoices during the year 2023. In this article, we present some of the most important findings of the study, focusing on the main cities in Spain.

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‍Tourism and its impact on water consumption‍

Spain is in a critical water situation, facing severe water shortages, while tourism continues to grow every year.

Tourism growth in Spain

According to data from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, in 2021 the estimated demand for water in Spain reached 32,000 cubic hectometres (hm³), mainly intended for irrigation consumption (80.4%), urban consumption (15.5%) and industrial consumption (4%).

As for the volume of water for urban supply, a total of 3,178 hm³ was recorded, with an average water consumption by household of 133 litres per day per inhabitant. For its part, a tourist consumes on average between 400 and 500 litres. This leads us to the fact that the management of water consumption plays a crucial role in a scenario of drought and desertification.

Data from the INE show that the Number of tourists who visited Spain increased by 18.7% in 2023, registering for the first time more than 85 million visitors. In addition, in just the first quarter of 2024, Spain has registered a growth of 17.7% compared to the same period last year. Exceltur estimates that the tourism GDP will grow by 8.6% this year 2024, exceeding 200 billion euros.

Increase in vacation rentals

The increase in tourists has also led to an increase in the offer of tourist housing. In fact, last year there was a significant figure in the Spanish tourism industry, since they were more than 9 million tourists who decided to choose to rent a home for your stay in Spain.

This growth reflects the tendency of tourists to prefer accommodations that offer greater flexibility and privacy. And, taking into account that water consumption per tourist is 3 or 4 times higher than that of a local, highlights the need to implement sustainable measures in the sector to ensure a balance between tourism and environmental sustainability in the country.

Consumption in the hotel sector

On the other hand, the hotels received more than 55 million international tourists last year and with such tourism potential, awareness-raising actions on water consumption have become a fundamental fact.

According to various studies, water consumption in a hotel depends mainly on its category, varying between 200 and 500 litres per day per guest.

According to a Barcelona Regional study in 2016, the average daily water consumption in Barcelona has reached 545 litres per day per guest in five-star hotels. On the other hand, in four-star hotels, consumption drops to 373 and in three-star hotels to 232 litres. However, Gremi d'Hotels Barcelona reflects lower data in its study on water consumption in the hotel sector, with figures such as: a consumption of 242 litres per guest per day in five-star hotels and 171 in four-star hotels.

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Water consumption in tourist accommodation

From the study carried out at Polaroo, analysing more than 11,000 digitized bills for water consumption in more than 1,800 tourist homes, we observed that the average annual consumption of the water supply was 162 m³, equivalent to 443 litres of water per day per household. If we consider that on average four guests spend the night in a tourist home (according to data from ReviTUR and the VI Holiday Rental Barometer in Spain of 2019 by Homeaway and the University of Salamanca), the water consumption per guest It is estimated at 111 litres per day.‍

Water consumption in tourist accommodation is similar to that of a household. Compared to hotels, it can consume between 25% and 70% less water. This difference can be attributed to several factors, such as guest behaviour and the implementation of water-saving measures.

As for the water consumption by city and, although specific details about cities are included in the full report, some highlights are:

• Barcelona: It has the highest water rate in all of Spain, which results in higher spending despite having lower consumption than cities like Madrid.
• Madrid and Barcelona: they record 20% higher water consumption per guest than other cities such as Seville, Valencia or Alicante.

We have also found that water consumption represents around 40% of the total value of the bill for consumption of less than 8 m³ per month.

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Tourism and water sustainability

Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the world's population, a figure that is likely to increase due to climate change. In addition, the water stress affects more than two billion people, and it is estimated that it will grow.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends us take a shower in four minutes to make an efficient use of water.

Faced with this situation, we also asked ourselves a question in the report: what can we do to consume water in a more controlled way?

Sustainability and efficient water consumption in the vacation rental sector, therefore, become a shared responsibility to preserve one of our most vital resources. ‍

Strategies to reduce water consumption

1. Installation of water collection systems: Using them for non-potable purposes reduces dependence on drinking water sources for activities such as garden irrigation and cleaning.
2. Technological solutions: Implementing toilets, urinals and taps with a timer, or showers with aerators, can reduce water consumption by up to 40%. At Polaro, you have the management software to monitor consumption and spending of water month by month and detect incidents.
3. Awareness-raising actions: Involve customers and promote responsibility through consumer clauses in the rental agreement.
4. Regular inspections and maintenance: Maintenance actions make it possible to identify and repair water leaks in a timely manner, avoiding losses and additional costs.

Efficient management of water consumption in the vacation rental sector not only contributes to the sustainability of the resource, but also makes it possible to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. This report provides useful guidance for understanding the evolution of consumption and adopting effective strategies for reducing water use.

In addition, it highlights the importance of implementing innovative technologies and educating both agents operating in the tourism sector and guests about sustainable practices. With the increase in tourism, it is crucial to take proactive steps to preserve our water resources and ensure a sustainable future.

Download the full report to learn all the details and contribute to a more sustainable water management in the tourism sector.

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