Playa Viva will use smart water conservation measures to not only ensure the minimal use of this precious resource, but to ensure that the water we do use is put back into the aquifer even cleaner then when it was removed.
Testing of Playa Viva's underground water systems shows that we have more water than we could ever use, and that it is also high quality potable water. So access to water is not a problem at Playa Viva, yet this still means we will be smart about its use and treatment. Playa Viva is collaborating with Michael Ogden, an expert on constructed wetlands, and his firm
NSI. Constructed wetlands are a highly energy-efficient technique for treating raw sewage with local plant species combined with gravel and sand filtration. Working with Dr. Gerardo Ceballos, our team biologist, they're designing a constructed wetland that will not only treat all of Playa Viva's wastewater back to near-potable quality, but will also use that same water to restore the wetlands and irrigate deteriorated ecosystems.
Additional water access and treatment measures will include:
- Teaching organic agriculture courses to farmers within our watershed in order to ensure that the water flowing into the Juluchuca river and estuaries is cleaner and healthier for the entire ecosystem and for the entire community.
- The use of low-flow sink faucets and dual flush toilets, which will save thousands of gallons of water per room each year.
- Eliminating the use of plastic water bottles at Playa Viva. We will be providing our guests with easily accessible, pure drinking water and reusable drinking containers in order to reduce waste.
- All hot water will be heated by the sun. Passive solar methods will be used to efficiently heat water that is used for washing and bathing purposes.
- The use of native species to provide us with fruits, vegetables, and herbs for our kitchens.
- Intelligent landscaping. Playa Viva will skip the usual non-native and water-intensive ornamentals and will instead focus on local, indigenous species that will restore the land. They'll also provide us with an edible landscape! Since we need to have plants for privacy and shade, why not use varieties that provide edible fruit? Instead of wasting water on ornamentation, it'll be used to feed plants that in turn feed you.
