Case Study: Remote Passages Marine Excursions
Don Travers and Kati Martini of Tofino have found there are many innovative ways for their marine adventure company to use less water.
The waterfront location of Remote Passages Marine Excursions on Tofino harbour means the company can pump saltwater from the ocean and use it in place of fresh water for rinsing vessels, kayaks and docks.
Martini and Travers said they developed this pumping system during the 2006 water shortage and they’re making use of it this summer.
And they’ll continue to use saltwater for rinsing purposes for the duration of the season – regardless of the level of water restrictions set out by the District of Tofino.
During stage two restrictions, staff at Remote Passages tapped into a non-potable water source provided by the district to maintain their flower beds located around the adventure station on Wharf St.
They also bought extra supplies of the toques, towels and drinking glasses they provide to their guests so they could eliminate washing between the hours of 3 to 6pm. This is the crucial time frame when the town’s natural water reservoirs located on Meares Island are in the process of renewing themselves.
“We also began to ask guests to bring their own hats and toques on cooler days,” said Martini.
And they have a plan in place in case the district moves into stricter water conservation mode.
Guests will stop getting toques and towels so the company can eliminate laundry altogether, and they will stop using fresh water inside their building.
“At any level of conservation, bottled water left behind by guests is recycled into cleaning purposes,” said Travers.
And it’s these sorts of practices, that Remote Passages continues to do on a regular basis, that are helping to reduce
Tofino’s overall water use.