News
May 1, 2024
Photo courtesy of Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi
Bottled at the source: A 5-star Abu Dhabi hotel pioneers a new path in water management
At the forefront of sustainability in hospitality, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi (Accor Group) marked a significant milestone with the introduction of its own onsite air-to-water bottling facility, the first initiative of its kind in the UAE.
The need
As part of parent company Accor Group’s sustainability strategy, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr embarked on a journey to eliminate its reliance on plastic water bottles, a significant contributor to global waste. The challenge was to find a sustainable alternative and one that could meet the daily needs of all 366 rooms, suites, villas and various dining venues.
Challenges
- Ensuring consistent quality and taste of the water produced, matching or exceeding that of conventional bottled water
- Consistently producing a high volume of water daily, regardless of varying atmospheric conditions like humidity levels
- Navigating and complying with local and international water quality standards and regulations to ensure all safety and quality requirements are met
The solution
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr collaborated with Airwater Co. to develop a commercial-scale solution capable of producing the required volume of water, complete with an onsite bottling facility. The system’s automated process captures moisture from the air, which is then filtered, mineralised and treated with ultraviolet light for purity. The water is then packaged in reusable, Fairmont-branded glass bottles, available as still or sparkling water.
The Airwater Co. team designed the entire system, bottling cell, filtration and process flow. This included developing all HACCP documentation, conducting water testing, quality control and FMEA risk assessments, and securing outline approval from the Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority. The facility features water recirculation systems, anti-bacterial systems, multi-stage filtration, mineralisation systems, water storage tanks, a separate bottle washer system and an HACCP temperature-controlled bottling cell.
The Fairmont and Airwater Co. water quality team receive live water dashboards to monitor key metrics like water generated, power used, cost per litre, plastic bottles saved and CO2 saved.
Water quality certifications
✓ World Health Organization
✓ UAE – Gulf Cooperation Council
✓ GSO149-2014
✓ Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority
✓ Dubai Municipality
Manufacturing Standards
✓ Six Sigma
✓ ISO 9001 – 2015
✓ IATF 16949
✓ National Sanitation Foundation
Impact
In full production since October 2023, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s bottling facility now has the capacity to produce more than 6,000 litres of water per day, adequately supplying the entire property and providing a branded, elevated experience for every guest of the hotel. It has positioned the property at the forefront of sustainability innovation in the region — a long-term solution to serve the needs of its guests for years to come.
2,500 bottles per hour
System capacity for single water bottle filling, capping, and date printing
12,000+ single-use 500 ml plastic water bottles eliminated daily
with onsite bottling facility
Join us in transforming water generation and consumption.
Reach out to learn more about our atmospheric water generation technology and explore how we can design a custom facility uniquely suited to your property.