The reduction of the irrigation surface, the use of a type of grass that is more resistant to drought or the reorientation of the sprinklers are some of the measures that golf courses have already adopted or will soon begin to apply to their facilities. locations so that water consumption is the essential minimum. It is estimated that, every year, those in Catalonia spend, on average, according to the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), a total of 7.9 hm3/year to water the grass. 65% is regenerated water and the rest comes from wells. A figure that, according to sources in the sector, confirmed by the ACA, represents around 0.3% of the total water consumed in a year in Catalonia, which is close to 1,000 hm3.
According to the Catalan Golf Federation, 95% of the courses use non-potable regenerated water, which comes from the sewer and is treated in the treatment plant. “If we didn’t use it, it would end up in the river; we are part of the solution to this problem”, explains an advisor for these facilities that have been turning towards a more sustainable business model for years. The investment to connect to a treatment plant ranges between one and four million euros, according to Lluís Parera, member of the board of directors of the Spanish Association of Golf Courses and member of the Catalan Federation and president of the Association of Golf Courses of the Costa Brava.
Some facilities such as Camiral Golf
The Empordà golf course also has in its energy saving plan the replacement of the grass in three years. “It would allow us to go from watering two or three times a week to just once,” explains Antoni Aguayo, financial director of Golf Empordà, who adds that a year ago they implemented a five-year plan that also includes the replacement of the sprinklers in the two fields “If until now they watered all 360 degrees, we have reoriented them and they only water the part we want”, he explains. With the implementation of this measure, they claim to have halved the water used.
The Golf d’Aro facilities were pioneers in the use of recycled water in 1990. Its manager, Rocío Aranda, claims that it was “the first course in Catalonia” to connect the irrigation system to a sewage treatment plant For six years, they have not watered the areas that do not participate in the game and let the vegetation grow. In Golf Sant Cugat, one of the few that irrigates with wells, they are working to bring regenerated water from the Sabadell-Riu Sec treatment plant. While this does not arrive, its manager, Sergi Corretja, explains that they have adopted measures such as auditing the irrigation system to detect and repair leaks or approving an intelligent sprinkler system to save 35% of irrigation on the greens.
The energy consumption to bring the regenerated water to the facilities through a pumping system is abundant. Parera explains that some clubs have come to pay 150,000 euros in electricity and the change of turf means, on average, a disbursement of 50,000 euros per hole.
With these measures, the president of the Catalan Golf Federation, Ramon Nogué, indicates that “we have many arguments not to feel demonized” and that regardless of what the ACA decides “we have a plan A, B, C and D, which would ultimately lead us to water only the green, the area surrounding the hole”.
Drought restrictions do not affect the use of regenerated water, if there is enough flow in the treatment plants; only in well water. In the alert phase, the reduction is 25%, and in an emergency, 50%.
