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Water in Rhode Island is rapidly floating to the forefront of environmental
issues, legislative concerns, and dinner table conversations. In the past,
RI has not needed to set stringent water use policies or guidelines. However,
the summer of 2002 caused parts of RI to enter into a drought warning,
the third stage of a four tier ranking system, and although the summer
of 2002 was dry, and precipitation levels were below average, it is not
uncommon for the Ocean State to experience water shortages in the summers,
especially in the southern region of the state.
Water is today's least expensive commodity, yet it is quickly becoming
our most precious resource. In RI, there is no legislation to date that
regulates, monitors, or meters golf course water use. The majority of
golf course irrigation water is self-supplied, thus the only regulation
or metering that is done, comes from within, and is left to the discretion
of the superintendent. The only costs associated with self-supply water
are those of transporting the water from its source, in this case usually
a pond or a well, to its destination, a golf course. One of the impacts
in RI, of self-supply water, is it creates data gaps. The United
States Geological Survices (USGS) and the Rhode Island's Water
Resources Board are working to complete data of water use in RI. However
the lack of reporting, and monitoring of golf course water use, place
golf courses among the prominent data gaps in the state. The lack of information
regarding water use in RI makes the state less prepared to handle situations
of extreme water shortages. For example, during the summer of 2002, water
restrictions were placed on residential water use such as the watering
of lawns and washing of cars, yet golf courses remained unregulated, unrestricted,
and for the most part, green.[36]
In the 20 interviews I conducted with golf course superintendents across
the state, I examined sources of golf course
water, potability, irrigation technology
and timing, and daily summer water use estimates.
I made comparisons to other state
water users, and a Massachusetts golf course water use policy. I also
gathered information on water conservation
strategies practiced by RI superintendents. Recommendations
were made based on my own observations as well as background research.