Acosol is the public company belonging to the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol (Benahavis, Benalmádena, Casares, Estepona, Fuengirola, Istán, Manilva, Marbella, Mijas, Ojén and Torremolinos) that manages the integral water cycle. This entity regenerates fifty cubic hectometers of water per year. A small reservoir. “Of which” -assures Manuel Cardeña, CEO of the entity- only six hectometers are used for irrigation with recycled water, the rest is channeled to the sea, which gives an idea of the enormous amount of water we have at our disposal”.
“At the moment” – he continues – “forty of the fifty fields of the Costa del Sol that are in our scope of action are irrigated one hundred percent with this water, but we hope that before 2027 it will be one hundred percent and with quality water”.
To achieve this, work is being done, among other things, at to solve the marine intrusion in the regenerated water treatment system, since this water is pumped back from the lowest points, close to the sea, where the intrusion occurs.
The Finca Cortesín course, where the 2023 Solheim Cup will be played the week of September 18 to 24, is one of the courses on the Costa del Sol that is 100% irrigated with reclaimed water and, last year, received the Acosol seal of quality accrediting it as the first course to be recognized for its good practices in the use of reclaimed water for irrigation.
-What does it mean for the entity of which you are CEO that the 2023 Solheim Cup will be played on a course that is 100 percent irrigated with the reclaimed water that you provide?
This is a top-level sporting event, the most important in the world of women’s golf, which is being played in our country for the first time. It also has 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 for irrigation the water that was previously used in our homes. It is an example for everyone and also of adaptation to the circumstances, to an area that has less and less rainfall.
-It is important that Finca Cortesín is irrigated only with reclaimed water because this implies that it can be done and that it is not necessary to use other resources…
Of course, and also have a course in perfect maintenance conditions, where you can make an event as important as the Solheim Cup, which is very rigorous and requires a series of requirements that this Malaga course meets in its entirety and which allows you to compete with any other club in the world.
The future of golf undoubtedly lies in recycled water and all courses that can receive it are obliged to irrigate with it.
On the Costa del Sol, about fifty fields have the possibility of using this water, since they have the necessary connections.
-The law requires irrigation with reclaimed water whenever possible…
-Yes, the law obliges everyone, except in the circumstance that the regenerated water that is served, for whatever reason, and punctually, is not of sufficient quality, or they do not have this resource nearby. It also gives the possibility that when there are high levels of salinity in the water, the greens can be “washed” with another type of non-potable water.
-It is important what you pointed out: “quality water”. Is Acosol serving water of sufficient quality for irrigation of golf courses?
-Our objective now is to provide at least 60 percent of the fields with very good water. We only have a problem in some points of 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 immediately undertakes the works to solve this and that we 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 make it so, which eliminates pathogens and allows sprinkler irrigation.
“I would like to point out,” concludes Manuel Cardeña, “that the golf courses are going to make available to the general supply the registered wells they have.”
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