Drought. Soccer, golf... What are the rules for watering sports turf?

France is affected by a number of measures restricting water use, due to the extent of the drought in the country and the heatwaves. However, prefectoral decrees also stipulate that certain infrastructures are exempt from the rule, particularly in the sports sector. What are they, and how is their watering monitored?

In the face of the drought, and with water restrictions on the increase in the vast majority of France, controversy has arisen over the exemptions granted to some, particularly in the sports sector, where soccer and golf have been singled out for criticism . Here's an update on watering rules for lawns and greens.

Golf: a waterless green dies in three days

In France, golf courses are allowed to water their teeing areas and greens, i.e. the area close to the hole where the grass is cut short and still very green. This authorization runs until 2024, and is included in the "guide to implementing measures to limit water use during periods of drought", published by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in June 2022.

In the event of a watering ban, "the greens may nevertheless be protected, except in the event of a shortage of drinking water, by watering reduced to the strict minimum between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., which may not exceed 30 hrs. % of the usual volumes", it reads.

This authorization is limited in terms of hours and quantity, and is at the discretion of the prefectures of each département. The latter can refuse to grant an exemption to golf courses in their department, as is the case in Ille-et-Vilaine.

When it comes to this exceptional authorization, the answer is mainly economic. "Without water, a green dies in three days and takes three months to grow back. However, a course without a green is like an ice rink without ice, it will have to close", Gérard Rougier, Director of Territories, Environment and Facilities at the French Golf Federation (FFG), explained to France Info.

Soccer: a question of "safety

The same debate is taking place on the world soccer stage, where Ligue 1 resumed last weekend and Ligue 2 has already played two rounds.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has suspended the Lawn Championship, which rewards the most beautiful green rectangle in L1 and L2, until further notice, but lawn watering remains authorized. This derogation applies to all national and international competition and training grounds. Even so, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition reminds us that this watering "must nevertheless be limited to what is strictly necessary, and may be prohibited in the event of a shortage of drinking water".

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So, even if the watering time is shorter than usual, professional soccer pitches are always watered a few minutes before kick-off and sometimes a few minutes at half-time. While it is often said that a well-moistened turf enhances speed and play, the explanation given for this derogation has nothing to do with entertainment, but is linked to safety and the preservation of "the player's physical integrity". Since a pitch that was too dry created a greater risk of injury.

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The watering of pitches concerns various other sports, such as rugby and tennis, where it is necessary for clay courts, albeit with a reduction of 30% in the usual watering. An exemption has also been granted for equestrian sports, to ensure the safety of the horses.