WATER TREATMENT
Wastewater that enters the treatment plant first undergoes physico-chemical treatment and then biological treatment followed by filtering. The process comes to an end when the water is desalinated through reversible electrodialysis and then disinfected, which transforms wastewater into the perfect substance with which to water the course.
A powerful pump pushes the water from the Les Fonts treatment plant to our reservoir, through 8km of pipes at an elevation difference of that reaches up to 160 metres.
THE PUMP
A water reservoir that can hold 50,000 m3 stores treated water and an attached cistern acts as a tank for the pump, which is capable of pumping 650m3/h at a pressure or 10kg/cm2. This pump is connected to a central watering system where all necessary data is stored. This ranges from electricity consumption and volume pumped to quality (pH and conductibility), and supplementary technical data (pump failures, pressure, alarms, etc.) After being filtered, water is distributed by a broad network of pipes 80,000 metres in length, which channel it to the 4,300 sprinklers located throughout the course.
WATERING THE COURSE
A set of perfectly triangular sprinklers works together to water every last corner of the course, ensuring the required amount of water is distributed over every square metre of land.
The course is divided into different zones. Greens and teeing grounds containing sand and peat and fairways and roughs with top soil cannot be watered in the same way. Each of these also contains land located at a higher elevation, which requires water to be sprinkled more slowly to avoid lack of penetration, as well as land at a lower elevation where water could accumulate. They also contain land in the shade and areas facing south or north which require different amounts of water. To facilitate this task we use the very latest in watering systems, through which a computerised program allows us to control each individual sprinkler and adjust the percentage of water that each area of the course receives.
The program also creates a daily report on meteorological conditions, including wind direction and speed, maximum and minimum temperatures, UV radiation, maximum, minimum and average humidity and other parameters that are used to compile the daily evapotranspiration report used by the greenkeeper and his team of experts to adjust the water supply to a level that reflects true daily requirements for the different areas of the course.
ISO 14001
The Real Club de Golf “El Prat” demonstrates its commitment to excellence in environmental protection with the ISO 14001. The Real Club de Golf “El Prat” has received one of the most important symbols of recognition of environmental management, the ISO 14001. This accreditation ensures the social and sporting organisation a place among Spain's most committed to the protection of nature and integration into our natural surroundings.
The Real Club de Golf “El Prat” is pleased to announce its recent receipt of the ISO 14001 certification of environmental management, awarded by the company SGS ICS Ibérica. This certification validates the set of environmental management procedures implemented by the Club which have led to systematic, quantifiable handling of the various environmental responsibilities entailed by the Club's area of activity.
This achievement is important as it officially recognises the manner in which the Real Club de Golf "El Prat" strives to attain the environmental goals it sets for itself. Since it was founded, is has made protection of and respect for the environment carefully guarded and applied objectives. When the Club moved to Terrassa in 2004, these objectives were further consolidated as the Club achieved a sustainable and non-intrusive integration into the surrounding natural landscape. It also implemented cutting-edge procedures aimed at achieving responsible management of the environment.
Since relocating to Terrassa, environmental factors have been crucial to every step taken by the Club: course design, water management and the decision to water with treated, desalinated water as well as correct waste management and general sports activities. The Club's continued efforts, coupled with its daily management of environmental issues and its commitment to the preservation of nature that goes beyond that required by legislation made it possible for the Club to obtain environmental management certification through the ISO 14001.
These values, as well as all the management beliefs that stem from them, have been passed on to workers at the Club's facilities as well as to its members and players. The ISO 14001 certifies principles of environmental management as well as their correct and complete application through prevention and control measures including, among others: efficient use of natural resources from the surrounding area, specific attention to the different types of waste generated, promotion of energy conservation and optimisation of water resources through establishment of a cycle of reclaimed water use.
As required for ISO 14001 certification, this year the Real Club de Golf “El Prat” has set new environmental goals. These include composting waste from pruning, broadening the scope of several areas of the Forest Plan and optimising the Club's water treatment circuit. In addition, the Club aims to further its commitment through further future action.
With this certification, the Real Club de Golf "El Prat" reaffirms its commitment to the conservation of nature as well as to its golf players, the general population and, especially, the region of Terrassa which is home to its facilities.
