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Opening Golf to the World
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Water Source: Hierarchy
The initial step in any irrigation changes within a site should be to consider a system of hierarchy when sourcing irrigation water.
All golf clubs should apply the following water hierarchy when sourcing irrigation water.
  1. On-site water harvesting
  2. Off-site water harvesting
  3. Treated wastewater (including on-site grey water, off-site wastewater from water utility company)
  4. River abstraction (during high flow periods only)
  5. Borehole
  6. Mains water
Note: river abstraction and borehole abstraction may alter order depending on location. Note: the clubhouse hierarchy is likely to be different as the requirement for potable water is greater. It may be possible to treat water to a potable standard onsite such as at Chinafleet Golf Club (LINK), but sometimes this is not feasible.
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This water source hierarchy may not be immediately possible, but should be a long-term aim for a golf club. It should be a high priority aim in the short to medium-term to remove any reliance on mains water for irrigation purposes. Achieving this will place a golf club in a more secure position in terms of supply and is also a more sustainable option for the club. On most sites, a combination of the above water supply options is likely to be needed. This will help to reduce overreliance on unsustainable and unsecure water sources. Water reduction should be the first aim for a club reviewing water supply (see site water management plan). With increases in annual irrigation budgets due to climate change, even small savings can help to reduce long-term increases in water demand. Monitoring of water usage is extremely important and all incoming water sources entering a golf course should be metered before entering the water storage facility. This will help the golf club to monitor use, determine if the irrigation system is leaking or inefficient and provide evidence to prove the club is reducing its reliance on unsustainable sources. Water quality of all water sources should be taken into careful consideration, with regular testing needed, especially if recycled water is being used. Key parameters to test include:
  • pH
  • dissolved metals
  • nutrient content
  • Electrical Conductivity (EC)
  • Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
  • Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
  • Viral or bacterial pathogens
It is usually possible to treat water on-site to bring it up to the required quality. It may also be possible to mitigate some of the impacts of recycled water by mixing with other sources of water.
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