Resort and spa development company Six Senses has said it will discontinue offering imported bottled drinking water at its resorts and will instead opt for local and seasonal produce.

The company said commencing October 1, 2008 it will offer a choice of Six Senses Sparkling or Still, or local water that will help in avoiding shipping of drinking water great distances, often by air.

Six Senses said the initiative is in recognition of the its efforts to reduce carbon footprints resulting from shipping of water and adding value to community partnerships.

It said Six Senses drinking water is produced to the highest international drinking water EPA standards, being processed on-site at each one of the group’s resorts, using the Classic Crystal system.

Following stringent filtration, the initial step is reverse osmosis, followed by further ultra violet purification.

The water is then remineralised, with aeration being added to the sparkling style. Bottling is in glass only, sealed with an airtight ceramic stopper clipped in place with a metal clasp.

Although use of glass may be the costlier alternative, its use avoids the potential for cross-over contamination recently identified with some plastic bottles.

Six Senses water is used as the complimentary water provided in every Six Senses accommodation at Soneva by Six Senses in the Maldives and Thailand; Six Senses Hideaways in Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji and Oman; Six Senses Latitudes in Maldives and Spain; and Evason resorts in Thailand, Vietnam and Jordan.

Properties currently under development in Vietnam, Brazil and India will also offer Six Senses water. Chilled water served in restaurants has a charge significantly less than branded bottled water.

The group’s chief operating officer, Jamie Waring said: ’We surveyed many guests across all our properties and held blind taste-tastings with Six Senses water.

’The results were quite surprising, with many people not able to distinguish between favourite trendy water and Six Senses water. And once the environmental implication of introducing our own water was made clear to them, the overwhelming consensus was one of full support for the initiative.’

Established in 1995, Six Ssenses manages resorts under the brand names Soneva, Six Senses Hideaways, Six Senses Latitudes and Evason, plus Six Senses Spas and Six Senses Destination Spas. - TradeArabia News Service