Blog
Dec 07

Wetting Agents Lead Conservation Practices as Golf Industry Cuts Water Use by 22%

Water use in the United States golf industry is down 22% over eight years, according to a new report from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. The second phase of the Golf Course Environmental Profile was conducted by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America through the Environmental Institute for Golf. The survey was funded by the United States Golf Association.

GCSAA SurveyScreen Shot 2015-12-07 at 1.47.45 PM

<<< Read the full report here (Link opens a PDF file) >>>

According to the report, U.S. golf courses used an estimated 1.859 million acre-feet of water in 2013, a 21.8% decrease from the 2.379 million acre-feet used in 2005. In 2013 golf courses accounted for 1.44% of all irrigation water in the U.S. That is down from 1.66% in 2005.  Factors contributing to decreased water use
include water conservation practices, voluntary reduction in irrigated acres and a reduction in the number of golf facilities.

In 2013, 94% of golf courses reported using wetting agents, a six percent increase over 2005.

The implementation of water conservation practices increased across the board since 2005, with the use of wetting agents/soil surfactants leading the way. In 2013, 94% of golf courses reported using wetting agents, a six percent increase over 2005. Wetting agents remained the most popular conservation practice among respondents.

The use of handheld soil moisture probes also played a significant role in water conservation efforts with 33% of golf courses reporting their use in 2013, the first year that handheld probes were included in the survey.

Another highlight from the survey included a significant increase in the use of reclaimed or recycled water. Recycled water accounted for 25% of the water applied to golf courses nationally in 2013, a 32.7% increase over 2005.

The results of this survey are extremely encouraging and show the serious nature of golf’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Aquatrols is proud to play a leading role in this effort. Research has shown that the use of Aquatrols soil surfactants can produce water savings of up to 25%-50% in certain conditions.

We pride ourselves on providing golf course professionals with the knowledge and tools to be better stewards of the environment. Our free online webinars and interactive tools like the Dispatch calculator help superintendents pinpoint soil surfactant strategies to reduce water and energy consumption.

<<< RELATED: Calculate your potential water savings with the Dispatch calculator >>>

Golf has come a long way in reducing its water footprint in recent years, but there is always remove for improvement. We look forward to continuing our work in researching and developing new technologies to improve the relationship between soil and water and also between golf and the environment.

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About The Author

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent. Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. Aquatrols’ advanced product suite optimizes soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass, and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.