Green Skiing – Ski Resort Snow making Water use

Boreal Ski resort started to make artificial snow on September 30, making it the earliest day to date.  With droughts hitting the West, snow fall has been dismal for the last couple years so artificial snow making has been the norm at many ski resorts.

Ski Resorts and Water Usage

The ski resorts tout how Green they are,  but how much water do these resorts use to make snow? Is the water diverted from other uses like agriculture or natural streams?

Water is indeed a precious commodity. Ski resorts need a ton of water. They use it for everything from snowmaking to sanitation to guest use. Water is piped in from holding tanks often miles away from ski resorts. Arizona recently had a snowmaking squabble over using reclaimed wastewater to make snow at Snowbowl ski resort. Wastewater, blended with fresh water, is used in many ski areas’ snowmaking systems, but Snowbowl’s would be the first to use reclaimed wastewater alone, according to an article in U.S. Water News Online.

Another reason not to eat the snow on the slopes…

Fight Over Water Rights Between Ski Resorts and Forest Service

In early 2012, a ski resort trade group sued the Forest Service over a new directive that forces resorts operating on Forest Service land to transfer water rights to the Federal Government. Ski resorts typically secure water rights from private land owners and from the government. The revised clauses are designed to ensure that ski resorts cannot sell water rights and leave towns and mountains dry. The Forest Service wants to make sure that resort owners do not sell off water for different uses.

Ski Wax Warning

Ski wax, especially high-fluro waxes used by racers, may pose a health risk because they contain PFOA. PFOA, a perfluorinated chemical has negative health effects. This is the same chemical known as Teflon and Scotchgard. We have covered the dangers of PFOA on cookware coatings in the past. Be very careful when applying ski wax. Do it in a well ventilated room and use a respirator. Ski shops should really be concerned.

Related posts:

1. Green Pans and Green Pan Cookware for the Eco Friendly Kitchen
2. Eco Friendly Green Pans and Green Cookware
3. Save Money with Water Filtration – Non Green Bottled Water
4. Hybrid Water Heaters – GE GeoSpring Water Heater
5. Car Roof Racks Reducing Car Mileage
6. Energy Efficient Eco Friendly Green Water Heater
7. Reducing a Lawn, Grass, Garden’s Water Use – Green Weed Prevention

Posted on March 9th, 2012
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