City focuses on less water use for links

In an effort to reduce water consumption in Spokane, the City Council has adopted a new ordinance that will give golf courses on the city water system reduced rates if they cut their use below 40 million gallons a year.

Brad Blegen, director of the water department, said

that

city-owned courses may eventually use reclaimed “class-A” water from wastewater treatment plants.

An experimental pilot program is starting this year at Downriver Golf Course.

But other methods of saving water are being considered.

Fairways Golf Course southwest of Spokane is working with a system to tap into storm water being held in storage basins at adjacent residential areas, and irrigating that water onto the course, Blegen said.

Another method would include increased sprinkler efficiency.

Council members approved an ordinance on June 4 to create rate incentives for such programs.

“Golf courses are certainly an area where we can get a big bang for the buck,” he said of emerging conservation efforts. The long-term goal is to reduce pumping from the region’s aquifer during July and August, he said.