The CLIA Spain column
By Alfredo Serrano
Managing Director CLIA Spain
Editorial from CruisesNews magazine no. 68 – March 2024
Water management: a success story
I often say, in media interviews or when participating in panel discussions, with absolute conviction that the cruise industry "has been doing its homework for years to reduce its environmental footprint." While there are numerous examples I could cite to support this claim, today I want to focus on water management, a success story; an example of how the industry addresses sustainability by putting technology at the service of its operations to minimize its impact; to generate wealth in the territories it visits without consuming such precious resources as water.
Thanks to the effort and determination of the shipping companies, the industry promotes a comprehensive management strategy (from production to wastewater treatment); to this end, it has been adopting cutting-edge technologies for some time aimed at both reducing water consumption and promoting its reuse and purification.
Today, ships are equipped with reverse osmosis plants and evaporators that allow them—in some cases—to produce up to 90% of the water they need to operate. Furthermore, initiatives are being promoted to reduce water consumption, such as the installation of flow restrictors in showers and vacuum toilets, which use around one liter of water compared to eight for conventional toilets. Similarly, there is a commitment to using eco-friendly dishwashers and laundry equipment that save and recycle water, and, of course, actions are being taken to raise awareness among crew and guests.
Another important aspect is reuse. For example, the water produced by condensation from air conditioning systems is used in toilets, laundry, or for cleaning the roof. Every drop counts, especially now when rain is an increasingly scarce resource.
And what happens to the water that has already been used? Again, technology works its magic. Nearly 80% of cruise ships – and 100% of those under construction – are equipped with wastewater treatment systems that meet standards exceeding those of land-based plants.
It seems obvious that all these measures contribute to reducing dependence on local resources. To verify this empirically, one only needs to look at Barcelona:
In 2022, cruise ships took on water at less than 30% of their port calls, a significant drop compared to 2017 (watering was carried out at 50% of port calls).
This supply represented 0.09% of the city's total water consumption (2022).
Speaking of Barcelona, I'd like to highlight the recent agreement reached between the Port and the shipping companies. This agreement stipulates that the companies will not load water in Barcelona for the duration of the drought emergency. This is yet another example of how the industry is sensitive to the needs of the destinations it visits and how it assumes its responsibility; how it engages with the challenges these regions face, contributing concrete measures and solutions with tangible results.
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