U.S. Water News Online
TRENTON, N.J. -- The demand for golf courses has risen steadily in recent years, and state officials say it's rare to see a new housing development without one.
But each golf course consumes an average of 200,000 gallons of water a day at a time when the state's water reserves are already taxed by drought. New Jersey has 224 regulated golf courses, with applications pending for 19 more.
``The majority of applications we review are for golf courses -- that's where growth for water demand is,'' said Robert Canace, chief of hydrogeology for the New Jersey Geological Survey. ``From a resource issue, this is tough.''
The state has started asking developers to come up with plans for minimizing water use, such as computerized systems that siphon floodwater from nearby streams and use no more water than necessary.
Raymond Cantor, assistant commissioner for the Department of Environmental Protection, said golf courses may have to use treated wastewater someday, saving cleaner water for drinking.
``We're not there yet,'' Cantor said.
Even so, the department has never rejected a golf course application. Developers are so certain they will get their permits that they start building golf courses even before they have approval.
``It becomes difficult to make changes,'' Cantor said.
The department planned to meet with the banking community and golf course superintendents to discuss the risks of building without a permit.
Cantor pointed to The Ridge at Back Brook in East Amwell as an example of cooperation between a golf course and state officials.
Developers agreed to enlarge the course's irrigation pond to store storm runoff from a nearby brook.
Matthew Mulhall, a consultant to the project, said that will spare wells and help the state meet its goal of using the lowest-quality water possible to maintain golf courses.
Meanwhile, township officials said the golf course saved hundreds of acres of open space that would have been costly to preserve otherwise.
``We saw this as an effective way to retire 300 acres without buying it,'' said Diane Griffith, a member of the township planning board. ``There is no residential component and no other amenities.''
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