Acosol regenerates 50 cubic hectometres of water per year. A small reservoir, notes Manuel Cardeña (the entity’s managing director), “of which only six hectometres are used for irrigation with regenerated (or recycled) water, while the rest is channeled to the sea, which gives an idea of the enormous amount of water we have available.
"At the moment, 40 of the 50 golf courses on the Costa del Sol that are within our scope of action are irrigated one hundred percent with this water, but we hope that before 2027 it will be all of them, and with quality water."
To achieve this objective, work is being done – among other initiatives – to solve an issue with seawater infiltration in the regenerated water purification system, as this water is pumped from the lowest points, close to the sea, where the infiltration occurs.
Finca Cortesín, where the Solheim Cup 2023 will be played during the week of 18 to 24 September, is one of the courses on the Costa del Sol that is one hundred percent irrigated with regenerated water. Last year, the course received Acosol’s official seal of quality, accrediting it as the first course to be recognised for its good practices in the use of regenerated water for irrigation.
What does it mean for Acosol that the 2023 Solheim Cup will be played on a course irrigated one hundred percent with the regenerated water that you provide?
This is a top-level sporting event, the most important in the world of women's golf, which will be played in our country for the first time. It also maintains and promotes a sustainability profile. It conveys the message that golf is a sport that cares for the environment.
That is why it is so important that Finca Cortesín uses water for irrigation that was previously used in our homes. It is an example for everyone and also of adapting to the circumstances, to an area that has less and less rainfall.
Is it especially important that Finca Cortesín is irrigated only with regenerated water because that implies that this can actually be achieved and that it is not necessary to use other resources?
Certainly, and also to have a course in perfect maintenance condition, where you can host a top event as important as the Solheim Cup, which is very rigorous and insists on several requirements that this Costa del Sol course meets in full, and which allows you to compete with any other club in the world.
The future of golf is unquestionably based on recycled water, and all courses that can receive it are obliged to irrigate with recycled water. On the Costa del Sol, some 50 courses have the possibility of using this water, as they have the necessary connections.
So the law obliges courses to irrigate with regenerated water, provided it is possible?
Yes, the law obliges all courses, except if the regenerated water that is provided – for whatever reason and from time to time – is not of sufficient quality, or they do not have this resource nearby. It also gives clubs the possibility, when there are high salinity indices, to “clean” the greens with other non-drinking water..
As you pointed out, "quality water" is important. Is Acosol serving water of sufficient quality to irrigate golf courses?
Our current objective is to provide at least 60 percent of the courses with very good water. We only have a problem at some points in Marbella and Estepona, because the pipeline is submerged in the sea and that causes some infiltration of saline water. The idea is that the Junta de Andalucía (regional government) will immediately undertake works to solve this and that we will be able to remain at 1,200 or 1,500 of conductivity, which is the right water for irrigation.
We are also working on controlling the levels of nitrogen and sodium that the water must have to be absolutely perfect. Our commitment is to enhance tertiary treatment to fulfill this goal, which eliminates pathogens and allows sprinkler irrigation.
"I would like to note," concludes Manuel Cardeña, "that golf courses are going to make their registered wells available for general supply.”
