No potable water for irrigation

Sustainable water management at the Meggen Golf Course
During the construction of the 9-hole and 6-hole courses, five ponds were created and existing, very old spring water pipes were replaced, with meticulous care taken to ensure that as much water as possible could be stored.

Since the Meggen Golf Course opened, the sports and leisure facility has been irrigated independently of the public drinking water network. The summer of 2017 was an exception, when 6,000 cubic metres of water had to be drawn from the public network on a one-off basis for the initial seeding of the playing areas. To enable long-term self-sufficiency, five ponds were created and old spring water pipes were refurbished during the construction of the 9-hole and 6-hole courses. The aim was to make optimal use of the natural storage capacities on site.

The ponds
They fulfil a dual function: on the one hand, they serve water management purposes and, on the other, they provide valuable habitat for flora and fauna. As some of these bodies of water are integrated directly into the fairways, they remain hidden from some visitors. We are therefore pleased to present the ponds to you here with a few photographs.

Depending on their location within the playing and maintenance areas, the width of the riparian zones varies depending on their location within the play and maintenance areas, resulting in a variety of habitats. Experts have documented between three and 22 different plant species in the damp riparian areas, depending on the pond. Whilst ponds 1 and 2 serve primarily as water reservoirs for dry periods, ponds 3 to 5 act as playful obstacles and, at the same time, as important retention basins during heavy rainfall.

The water management concept is based on a well-thought-out cycle
Drainage pipes in the ground channel rainwater directly into the storage lakes, from where it is reused for irrigation. In addition, surface water from the tarmac areas around the maintenance depot is collected in a former slurry silo, which has served as additional storage since the facility was built.

The wash water from the golf course machinery is also channelled there via a settling tank and then pumped into the main retention lake. The investments made in this system at the time have proved their worth from both an environmental and operational perspective.

Pond 1, the peat pond, was excavated in a pre-drawn wet hollow. The subsoil consisted of an almost 2m thick layer of peat, which had been tilled and planted for decades. Next to this pond, a new reedbed could be established.

Pond 2 is the largest and was mainly designed as a defining landscape element and water reservoir. Together with Pond 1 and the connecting stream, it collects all the water from the western square. The system of ponds, ditches and reeds forms an important centre for native plants and animals.

Pond 3 is the smallest and is mainly used for the retention of rainwater and also as a design element in playground 2. It is mainly populated by aquatic plants and visited by waterbirds.

Pond 4 is located far away from the fairways and driving range. It has an important retention function for the rainwater from the valley near the Badhof before it flows into the newly opened Stampfibach. It was designed as a near-natural biotope with bushes, shallow water and wide banks.

Pond 5 lies in a deep hollow and is played over from high up. Although it lies in the course, it is hardly touched by the game and the players due to its location. It forms a quiet water body for native animals and plants. The banks are very narrow due to the steep slopes, but are supplemented with surrounding flower meadows.

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