Venues like Carson, Calif.?EUR??,,????'???s Home Depot Center have found that they can grow top-rate turf using reclaimed water. The added salt and nitrogen compounds can lead to problems with pythium and other diseases, however. The result is a more complicated maintenance routine that includes flushing for salt and additional chemical applications. Photo courtesy of Home Depot Center

Parks and athletic fields across the country, including Southern California?EUR??,,????'???s new pro soccer showplace, are pioneering the use of reclaimed water. But reclaimed water is non-potable and contains higher levels of salts and nutrients than potable water. There are some suggested best-management practices users should be aware of.

Reclaimed water has a higher content of salts than potable water and these salts can accumulate in the soil with time if not managed properly.

In El Paso, Texas, research projects are giving managers and others solid advice on using this liquid resource.

Eye on Soil Type

The key to creating a successful playing surface using reclaimed water is to know the type of soil on site. Proper soil Identification is important, since this will determine if the existing soils will have the capability to sustain a landscape or if soil amendments are needed. Good drainage is required for reclaimed water irrigated sites to allow for leaching of excess salts. Clay and caliche soils are less desirable since these prevent or reduce drainage.

Choose salt tolerant species to incorporate into an existing or new landscape. A list of trees, shrubs and grasses have been developed for response to water of higher salinity. Some plants may be salt-sensitive at the root system while other may be salt-sensitive at the foliage, or leaves.

A cross-connection control program provides legal protection for installers and operators of reclaimed water systems. Failure to comply could result in a finding of gross neglegence in a civil suit against a contractor along with fines or other sanctions. Photo courtesy of erik skindrud

Choose Turf Wisely

Not all drought-resistant turfgrass and plants are tolerant to water with higher salinity. Plan ahead by listing all the existing plants that will stay and those that need to be replaced and compare these against the existing or new irrigation system.

An adequate irrigation system must also be considered to deliver the right amount of water needed for the plant?EUR??,,????'???s optimal growth. Modify existing irrigation systems to accommodate the landscape?EUR??,,????'???s response to added salinity. Avoid spraying foliage of plants that are leaf salt-sensitive by replacing sprinkler-heads with low-angle nozzles or converting to bubbler or drip irrigation systems as needed. Consider replacing highly salt-sensitive plants with salt resistant species.

Warning Signs

All sites using reclaimed water (residential, commercial, parks, schools, cemeteries, etc.) must have reclaimed water warning-signs posted within the premise, as required by the state and local regulations. Warning signs must be on purple-color background with white or yellow lettering in English and Spanish. The size must be adequate to provide easy visibility to visitors but no less than 12×24 inches. Residential customers may install smaller signs but these may not be smaller than 8×8 inches.

Source: El Paso (Texas) Water Utilities