NHL arenas using water more efficiently

From March 12-18, the National Hockey League and its member clubs, as part of the first-ever NHL Green Week, will showcase its greening programs and initiatives that are reducing the League's environmental impact, while calling on fans and partners to accelerate a movement toward a healthier planet.
Today's Tip: Be a Leader on the Ice and at Home

The average American uses approximately 2,000 gallons of water per day -- twice the global average. It takes about 12,000-15,000 gallons of water to make an ice sheet, which means you could make about 50 ice sheets from the water you use each year. Water is a critical natural resource, but water scarcity is a growing concern throughout the world where thousands of miles of over-tapped rivers are drying up. The United States Government Accountability Office found that officials in 40 states expect water shortages to occur in some parts of their states within the next decade.

NHL arenas are using water more efficiently in their ice making, food services, plumbing and landscaping. The Staples Center in Los Angeles replaced all 178 conventional urinals with waterless urinals for total annual savings of more than 7 million gallons of water. MTS Centre in Winnipeg uses reverse osmosis to filter water instead of treating it chemically. The water is free of impurities and results in a harder ice surface which requires less maintenance. Amalie Arena in Tampa features an outdoor hydroponic garden which grows fresh produce sold in premium areas. The garden uses a closed system for watering and fertilization, which means all water and nutrients not used by plants or lost in evaporation returns to the tanks below to be used in the next watering.
The League is also working with outside organizations to restore freshwater to rivers and streams in North America. Since 2011, the NHL has restored approximately 50 million gallons of water through its partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation. For every fan that pledges to conserve water, the League will restore 1,000 gallons more. Text "NHL" to 77177.