Christopher Gray Sr., golf course superintendent at Marvel Golf Club in Benton, Ky., is the recipient of the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award. Irrigation manufacturer Rain Bird honored Gray with the award and will present him with a $10,000 prize at the Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition, October 11 in Los Angeles.
In his position at Marvel Golf Club, Gray has been proactive in developing and implementing innovative water conservation programs both on and off the golf course. Most recently, Gray has led the development and implementation of a unique wastewater recapture program in which all stormwater and household wastewater generated by the homes surrounding the golf course is captured, treated and pumped into the course’s irrigation retention ponds where it’s then used to irrigate the course.
“I believe it is very important to use water as intelligently as possible and it is our responsibility as an industry to commit to finding alternative sources of water to meet the needs of golf courses,” Gray says. “We need to leave this world a better place for future generations. None of us wants our children to have to worry about where their water is going to come from.”
Harvesting more than 14 million gallons of reclaimed water per year, the innovative system eliminates the need to pull water from the local water district or nearby Kentucky Lake for irrigation purposes and significantly reduces the risk of any lake contamination from the use of pesticides and fertilizers on the golf course.
“Beyond water savings, the system has proven to be beneficial in a number of ways as it helps keep Kentucky Lake clean, and significantly reduces the amount of energy used by the course as we no longer need to pump water out of the lake,” Gray adds.
Emanating from the same ideals that provide the basis for Rain Bird's core commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water, The Intelligent Use of Water Award program seeks to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of the need for water conservation by recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals and or organizations towards the advancement of landscape water efficiency. Selected by a panel of judges according to pre-determined criteria, including demonstrated water savings, preservation of landscapes, innovation and overall impact on the community, the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award finalists included a mix of organizations and individuals, each with a unique commitment to improved water efficiency.
For more information on the award program and the other finalists, visit www.rainbird.com/iuow/.
To see a video about Gray’s facility’s wastewater recapture system, click here.