PUBLIC & OPEN SPACES 31
Irrigation
On the reverse side of the drainage ledger is irrigation . A well maintained , turf , sporting facility should be irrigated to fully utilise the warmer and generally dryer growing season . Not only will this provide a better surface during the summer months the additional growth will ensure a better mat of grass cover before entering the slower growing winter months . As the price for potable water , and the expectation of sustainability increases , the requirement to harvest water will become a higher priority in the design or upgrading of sporting facilities . Many options are available such as harvesting stormwater , the use of greywater , sewer mining , desalination and bore-water .
Restrictions on water licenses across most states can reduce these options and therefore we are taking a closer look at the process of sewer mining .
Curlewis Golf Club ( CGC ) had relied on potable water for the majority of course irrigation , with harvested stormwater used to supplement potable supplies when available . This water strategy served the Club well until 2006 / 2007 when Level 4 water restrictions were imposed and rainfall at Curlewis was 276mm vs the long term average of 625mm .
( see image 3 )
Lack of water had an immediate impact on course condition and membership levels . Modest amounts of water ( 20ML vs required 70ML ) between 2006 and 2011 enabled turf survival , however , membership slowly declined . Therefore securing a sustainable , reliable and cost effective supply of irrigation water was critical to ensure the ongoing viability of this important community asset .
CGC had investigated various alternate water supplies , including :
• Continued use of potable water - This option was largely discounted as future access and quantity could not be guaranteed and costs were increasing rapidly .
• Increasing the size of the infrastructure for stormwater harvesting and storage - This option was explored and rejeted as all surface water in the area was already fully allocated .
• Groundwater - Whilst groundwater was available in the vicinity of CGC , previous investigations have shown it to be low yield and poor quality .
• Recycled water from sewer mining of a pressure sewer which runs along the Northern boundary of the golf course - Whilst not without significant capital investment recycled water from sewer mining was the only viable option for CGC ’ s future supply of irrigation water .
In March 2009 CGC engaged consultants to confirm the feasbility of sewer mining at their facility and prepare a concept design of key infrastructure . A plant size of 250,000L / day was ultimately selected to produce up to 60,000,000L / year of Class B recycled water .
The plant was commissioned in late 2011 and now supplies the majority of CGC ’ s irrigation needs . Stormwater collection has been retained and is used to supplement the recycled water in periods of high demand .
With a sustainable and secure water supply CGC can now maintain the course in-line with the expectations of members and visitors even during periods of extended dry weather . The high quality playing surfaces now available at CGC were recognised in 2012 with the Club entering the Top 50 public golf courses in Australia - a position which was unthinkable in 2006 / 2007 .
Image 3
GOVLINK » ISSUE 1 2017