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| Myths and Facts of Water Conservation It absolutely bewilders me what some people believe are the facts when it comes to water conservation, both in general use and how it specifically relates to the golf industry. And since we make some pretty serious water-management decisions based on what we believe to be true, let's take a quick look at some myths and facts about water conservation.  Myth: We need to conserve water because the planet is running out of water.
Fact: Nope. Our planet is definitely not running out of water, nor is it even losing water. There is an estimated 365 quintillion gallons of water on the planet, and it's not going anywhere but in a circle. The hydrologic cycle of the Earth is a completely closed system as old as time itself: evaporation, condensation, precipitation and infiltration. Actually, it's quite likely there's more liquid water on the Earth than there was even a few decades ago, thanks in part to global warming and the melting polar ice caps. The problem is water availability. Most of the water is locked in oceans that would need to be desalinated before it could be used for drinking or irrigation. But running out of water? No way. Myth: If we develop highly effective water conservation programs, this will solve today's water-availability shortage. Fact: Maybe, but about tomorrow? Water-conservation programs are only one piece of the total solution puzzle. Most programs are currently developed using today's shortage numbers to determine the effectiveness of the program. Even if we drastically reduce the current water consumption rate to an acceptably sustainable level, it's still only a short-term solution at best. Currently, the world's population is about 6.5 billion people, and we're using up water at an unsustainable rate. What are we going to do in 2050, when the population is estimated to be 9.1 billion people? Myth: Water-conservation programs are too expensive to implement, especially in this economy. Fact: Developing and implementing an effective water-conservation program can have a cost factor associated with it. So there is a grain of truth to this myth, but only in the short-term viewpoint. Long-term thinking is the key when considering conservation programs. While there possibly could be some up-front costs, they'll quickly be offset once the system is operating properly and savings start adding up in the form of, not only actual water, but also in the associated cost of energy use. In our current economic times, now is the best time to implement a water conservation program. Editor's note: This is part one of two parts. Part two runs in October. The author is general manager and superintendent of the Marvel Golf Club in Benton, Ky. |  |
