José Bernal, Acosol’s Chief Executive Officer

This is clear proof of the importance that these institutions attach to golf tourism. José Bernal, CEO of Acosol, talks about the importance of golf in this important tourist destination in southern Europe.

“Both from Acosol and from the Mancomunidad,” he says, “we are clear that golf, in the Costa del Sol West, is an industry on which many direct and indirect permanent jobs depend. We must not forget that in winter, golf is the activity that keeps hotels and restaurants open, in addition to the golfer is a customer who spends money, because apart from the game itself, is usually a person who enjoys life going out, shopping and making use of many of the places of leisure that we have in the region”.

-In periods of crisis, such as the one we are going through, do you think that promotion should be redoubled in order to maintain the level achieved by our golf destination?

-I think we must not miss opportunities to remind our customers of the many advantages of a destination like ours: the variety of golf courses, the hotel infrastructure that surrounds them, the high level of hospitality, the enviable climate or, why not say it, the parallel advantages in terms of safety and health. The promotion of golf on the Costa del Sol has to be constant, since our goal is to build loyalty and deseasonalize, whether there is a crisis or not. Of course, we must be realistic, but always keeping in mind that the promotion is a work of years that can be spoiled if we fall into comfortable or unambitious attitudes.

-This circuit is undoubtedly appreciated by golf enthusiasts who live or travel to the Costa del Sol. How many rounds will be held this year?

In total, there will be six, all on different golf courses irrigated with recycled water, demonstrating that the quality of the grass or the beauty of the lakes are at the highest level, as the water we supply meets all the necessary requirements. We believe that golf enthusiasts appreciate both the possibility of enjoying what our courses have to offer, and the fact that they have an obvious ecological value, being environmentally friendly, leaving without arguments the critics who attacked these facilities based on excessive water consumption. With reclaimed water there is no such problem.

-The irrigation with reclaimed water of the fields of the Costa del Sol is both a service of Acosol and a source of income for this public company.

-Well, it is really a public service, since the only thing that is passed on is the cost, even on some occasions, up to 50 percent of the price has been subsidized, with the intention of popularizing the use of reclaimed water. Acosol does not obtain economic benefits for this management, the idea is not to have losses either. The real beneficiaries are the golf courses, which have an assured supply, come what may; and the residents of the Costa del Sol, whose volume of drinking water is not reduced, as the water reserved for human consumption is not used for irrigation of golf courses, but recycled wastewater. In this sense, the Costa del Sol is far ahead of other tourist destinations, since the environmental concept is what determines that, on the one hand, we have these sports-tourist facilities that are so necessary for our main industry, tourism; and, on the other hand, we are respectful with the environment, reusing the scarce resources we have, since, although the last few years have been rainy, this is not usual. It is normal to have scarce and irregular rainfall.

-What percentage of the fifty or so fields on the coast are irrigated with this water?

-At the moment, more than 70 percent, with plans to reach 100 percent soon, once the new reclaimed water pipelines that will start from three of our treatment plants are completed. Once the network is completed, many fields that now want to, but cannot, will be able to hook up and have access to this resource.

-Is water reuse a priority for you even in years of abundant rainfall like this one?

Yes, because the reservoir has the capacity it has and the desalination plant produces what it produces. It may be releasing water now, but in the end, when it stops raining, what is available will have to last. Besides, while it is raining the fields do not need irrigation. It is in times of lack of resources when irrigation with reclaimed water is necessary. The infrastructure is in place and is used according to demand. If the lakes of the courses are full and it rains, there is no need to use reclaimed water, but this can change in a short time, and we have to be prepared to meet the irrigation of a golf course, which can be 3,000 cubic meters per day, which multiplied by the number of courses on the Costa del Sol, is a lot of water.

-Could you assure us that the quality of the reclaimed water you distribute is optimal for golf courses?

-The proof is in a recent study by biologists from the University of Malaga, who have found that the fauna and flora of the golf courses on the Costa del Sol are comparable to that of the Mediterranean forest. They even gave the example of animals, such as otters, which, when there is no water in the rivers, move to the ponds and lakes of regenerated water on the golf courses. This is irrefutable proof, in addition to the permanent analyses and studies that we carry out on the water, and whose information we send to those in charge of the golf courses. Another thing is that there are still people who are suspicious about the fact that reclaimed water comes from wastewater. However, many are surprised to learn that the course where they play, and which they excluded from the list of those irrigated with reclaimed water because of its quality and good condition, has been irrigated with reclaimed water for years.