Reclaimed Water Use for Irrigation on Texas Golf Courses

Abstract

Water is a valuable resource which becomes more precious as demand for fresh water increases. With increasing urban populations and diminishing sources of fresh, potable water, management practices must adapt to the new pressures on water resources. Texas is at a unique time in our water management practices. We have the ability to be proactive in our water management strategies to better conserve and protect our water resources before demand outpaces availability. Wastewater reclamation and reuse is a strategy used to mitigate the impacts of increased demand on fresh water resources. Potable water must meet high quality standards, while other uses of water can be conducted at lower qualities. Irrigation of turfgrasses on golf courses with treated wastewater effluent can reduce the demand on municipal water resources serving the need of water conservation, but this has “both advantages and disadvantages related to regulatory, agronomic, economic, and operational issues” (Huck, Carrow, and Duncan 2000, 15). Through this research those regulatory, agronomic, economic, and operational issues will be discussed and analyzed in the context of Texas golf courses.