The use of water on golf courses has a significant potential to effect surrounding communities due to the increasing scarcity of this resource. Golf developments are often criticised for taking water that could be used for a better purpose. In 2004, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 cubic meters of water per hectare were being pumped out of freshwater supplies to keep golf courses green in south-east Spain; enough water to supply a town of 12,000 inhabitants for a whole year! Most courses will not use anything like this quantity of water and, even in dry climates, such levels of use cannot be justified.
It is possible to manage your water use most effectively by:
- utilising water sources that are not suitable for drinking, such as recycled or grey water. Water harvesting from course drainage or buildings can also contribute to on-course needs. Desalination is a further opportunity to acquire water that does not tap into potable supplies
- recycling water used for washing down machinery
- minimising use of water by limiting areas to be irrigated
- applying just enough water to maintain dry, firm and healthy surfaces
- irrigating when evapo-transpiration is low, i.e. at night, and hand-watering to better target water use
- co-operating with local authorities and environment agencies to comply with any restrictions that are imposed
- providing water-use figures for public consumption to demonstrate a responsible approach and transparency in your operation.
Water is becoming an increasingly costly resource. It will be beneficial to audit your water use so that you have accurate information available to help you implement management strategies with specific targets to reduce consumption. To gain community support for your commitment to reducing consumption, you may wish to publicise the efforts you are making to use water responsibly. This might include your compliance with legislation, your selection of drought-resistant grasses and your development of dry, firm turf.
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