Water management is a prime concern for many sporting facilities but the issues affecting them may take on a new level of severity if water companies around the country are granted permission to put proposed water use restrictions into effect.


Drought! By HOLLY WILD


Water management is a prime concern for many sporting facilities but the issues affecting them may take on a new level of severity if water companies around the country are granted permission to put proposed water use restrictions into effect. Experts at environmental consultancy JDIH (Water & Environment) Ltd for example, say that, unless those running sporting fixtures take action to plan their water usage right away, sports fans may be sorely disappointed. Southern Water is taking the first steps towards introducing further water restrictions into its drought- hit Kent and Sussex supply areas.


The company has applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for a drought order to enable it to ban non-essential uses of water. The application comes as the South-east continues to be held in the grip of the driest period in the last 100 years, which has left some water resources across the region at the lowest levels ever seen. Mid Kent Water are also in the application process for a drought order from DEFRA. These steps follow hosepipe and sprinkler restrictions that ban their use in Sussex and Kent. Not far behind are Thames Water, who, for the first time in 15 years, are


implementing a ban on the use of hosepipes and sprinklers for watering private gardens or washing private cars, caravans or trailers. South East Water and Sutton & East Surrey


Water also have hosepipe bans in effect.


Although these current domestic bans do not affect sporting and recreational facilities as such, if the drought order is granted by DEFRA to Southern Water and Mid Kent Water, the outlook will change. Southern Water will ask for the power to ban the use of water from the company’s mains network for all activities listed in the Drought Direction 1991. Two hearings, one in Kent and one in Sussex, are expected to be held in April, following which DEFRA will decide whether to make the drought orders. Jessica Spratt of Southern Water confirms: “If granted, all non-essential water use will be banned. We will find out following the hearings in April exactly what restrictions will be put in place.”


Andy Watson, Southern Water’s Director of


Operations, says: “Bringing in further restrictions on the use of water for activities that are not essential will help to ensure we have enough water available for our customers to drink and for their everyday household needs, such as cooking, washing and cleaning. We introduced hosepipe bans last summer and drought permits that allow the company to take more water from the environment are in place.” “Unfortunately, the


exceptionally low rainfall levels, which have continued since November 2004, mean that further emergency action to reduce the amount of water that is used is now needed to help conserve


vital supplies.” The Drought Direction 1991 details the watering, by hosepipe, sprinkler or other similar apparatus of any natural or artificial surfaces used for sport or recreation as a non-essential activity to be banned. This will clearly have severe consequences for the maintenance of sports facilities including golf courses, which rely on an almost constant supply of water to maintain the standard of their courses. Robin Hume of the Sports


Turf Research Institute (STRI) believes that even if drought orders are granted, golf courses will act to defend their rights to use water. Hume states: “If Southern Water succeed in getting a drought order the important question is going to be what is a non-essential use? If it is purely against golf courses and sports facilities, there will most likely be a case in court.” “The word from golf courses is that they will take their cases to court; they have the same standing in law as other businesses. They should not penalise golf courses and sports grounds just because they’re leisure; they’re businesses too.” With drought fears widespread among water companies, what can be done to counteract water shortages on golf courses and sporting grounds? Hume says: “If a drought order bans irrigation, they have got to very quickly work the ground to make sure any water that does come penetrates it.” The key to maintaining


grounds under these increasingly dry conditions


is making the most of the water that is available. In terms of irrigation, this can be utilised in a way to minimise water usage. Hume outlines three key tasks to be carried out; “When irrigating, ensure an efficient system is used, ensure healthy grass and good root structure-the key is starting with healthy grass-and increase the height of the cut slightly to reduce the amount of water lost, creating a microclimate in the turf top which will decrease evaporation.” Stella Rixon, a Regional


Agronomist with STRI, offers further short-term methods of dealing with drought: “Allow cutting heights to come up and reduce or cease operations which cause turf stress, such as grooming, verticutting or scarifying.” “Regular tining (narrow tines) is very important to keep water moving through the profile and maintaining the ground underneath the turf moist” she adds. “If the soil becomes compacted, the water will simply evaporate off the surface. In addition, using seaweeds can be beneficial. They contain organic matter, for moisture retention, and also the hormone cytokinin, which promotes root growth and drought resistance in plants.”


Use a seaweed meal at the start of the season, topped up with liquid seaweed applications throughout the summer. “Of course, the regular use of wetting agents is also widely known to be beneficial. Wetting agents are already used on the greens of golf courses, however clubs may wish to


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