Technical
Water quality issues
The importance of water quality
Water is one of the most precious of our recyclable resources and a source of natural beauty and recreation. In this article, Reg Varney, international manager for water specialist Otterbine, looks at the importance of water quality
T
he quality of water is a critical factor in the successful management of any golf course, park, commercial or residential property. The sight and sound of it is a welcome addition to the environment but, without due care and attention, lakes, ponds and reservoirs can
quite often end up being more murky than magical. Poorly managed water will have a negative impact on the quality of the environment, irrigation systems, turf and the aesthetic value of the landscape.
Consider the negative impact of ingesting polluted water and
air. These same principles hold true in the aquatic ecosystem and in managing our golf courses, landscapes and properties. Oddly, water is our most important natural resource, but it is far from understood. The concept of water as a natural resource, which must be
carefully managed, is becoming increasingly important as its appreciation increases. Yet it’s not just the amount of water used that is a concern, water quality has become a critical issue too.
Quite often, we treat the visible symptoms of poor water
quality, such as excessive algae blooms, aquatic vegetation growth, bad odours, clogged sprinklers, valves and pumps, rather than prevent them. By increasing your understanding of the problems that lead to
water quality issues, you’ll be better able to develop a balanced management and prevention programme for your water. As greenkeepers, course managers or property management professionals, we are all well aware of the responsibilities we have and our ability to have a significant positive impact on the environment. First let’s consider the main factors that impact water quality. The most significant factors are light, temperature, nutrients and oxygen.
Light
Sunlight is the primary source of energy. Most of the energy that controls the metabolism of a lake comes directly from the solar energy utilised in photosynthesis. Photosynthesis will occur only in the upper layer of the pond or euphotic zone, as this is the only area in the water column that sunlight is able to penetrate.
Shallow bodies of water, which are less than 9ft/3m in depth,
more commonly experience problems such as bottom-rooted weeds or benthic algae and need additional consideration when determining the correct water management solution.
Temperature
Thermal stratification, or mean temperature layering, impacts water quality in a lake due to its effect on dissolved oxygen levels, the way we measure how water holds oxygen. As the sun shines on the water’s surface, it warms it, and warmer water becomes lighter than cooler water, which is then trapped at the pond’s bottom. As a result, the water becomes stratified, or separated into layers, and these layers do not mix together. This prevents any vertical mixing in the lake and
126 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156
