The consumption figures are higher if the complex includes villas, hotels or swimming pools
The answer about the consumption of the golf courses has numbers exact: according to data from the Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA) to which this newspaper has accessed, the golf courses in Catalonia consume 7.9 cubic hectometers per year. This equals 8,000 million literswhich means that with the water used to irrigate the golf grass, the entire reservoir could be filled with Riudecanyeswhich right now is almost dry.
If we compare it with the consumption of the inhabitants of BarcelonaFor example, things would look like this: the water that is used for irrigate golf courses It is equivalent to what the inhabitants of Barcelona spend (1.6 million people) in one month and a half. Another comparison: the annual consumption of Catalan golf courses is the same as that used by the entire province of Arrived in 6 months.
Why is it regenerated?
Of these almost 8 hm3, most, 5 hm3is water regenerated. This, according to the ACA data, shows that 10% of all water That regenerates in Catalonia it is used for irrigate golf courses. Currently, of the twenty water regeneration stations in Catalonia, six contemplate recreational uses of water. Of these six, four are located in the Costa Brava. Some environmental groups consulted consider that this reclaimed water could be used to maintain the environmental flows of rivers or to reinforce wetlands.
Others 2.6hm3 come from wells own. Of this water that is drawn from wells, with the exceptional situation, only half of what would be used in a normal situation can be used. after, there is 0.3hm3 that they do come from the distribution network of drinking water: they are used for bathrooms, kitchens and showers. Never to water the lawn.
Villas and pools
this is consumption watering only. Golf resorts usually consume much more water because in some cases, as in Caldes de Malavella, they include chalets, Hotels and various equipment, such as a pool.
The two existing golf courses in Caldes de Malavella use 200 million liters each year (2.5% of the water used to irrigate all Catalan golf courses). This amount of water, with the expansion of the ‘resort’ and the construction of the new field, would increase, although no additional concession will be required from the ACA.
Water from the treatment plant
The company that manages the space, before it was called PGA Catalunya and now Camiral Golf & Wellnessensures that all the water they consume is regenerated since the inauguration of his field in 1999.
David Plana: “We manage the ‘resort’ like a natural park”
“It is our priority and our DNA. And it will continue to be so,” he says. David Flat, CEO of the company, in statements to EL PERIÓDICO. “We use the Caldes de Malavella water treatment plant and one that is ours”, he claims. He details that the water that is consumed in the ‘resort’ does not go directly into the sewer: “It is later reused to water the grass”. Each time they expect to be more efficient in the use of water: “we keep innovating in this aspect and we are going to change the grass for a variety that is better adapted to the high temperatures and to the purified waters”.
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They will also reduce irrigated areas and point out that they manage their ‘resort’ as if it were “a natural park“. In 2015, they brought in a biologist who works for reintroduce native species of flora and fauna: for example the stickleback fish in the ‘resort’ lakes.
Planas highlights the importance of being able to hold an event like the Ryder Cup in 2031but conditions it to the expansion of the ‘resort’: “Are needed more facilities because otherwise, there won’t be enough space for stands, bathrooms, restaurants, the media, parking lots, etc.”.