In 1994, the Carmel Area Wastewater District, Pebble Beach Community Services
District, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, and Pebble Beach Company
formed a public/private joint venture to produce and deliver recycled water for irrigation
to seven golf courses in Pebble Beach, California, including world-renowned Pebble
Beach Golf Course. Through this venture they began the Water Reclamation Project,
including tertiary treatment by sand filtration followed by chlorine disinfection. Shortly
after start of operation of the new tertiary facilities, the Pebble Beach golf courses began
experiencing some problems with the turf grass, particularly on the greens. This was
discovered to primarily be the result of high sodium concentrations (at times as high as
200 mg/L) and high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations (at times as high as 1000
mg/L). To remedy the problem, the consortium, along with golf course superintendents,
turf grass specialists, and Carollo Engineers, began the Salinity Management Project with
the intent of improving the water quality and increasing the quantity of recycled water
available for irrigation. As a result of early discussions, the turf grass water quality
criteria included a maximum sodium concentration of 55 mg/L, maximum Sodium
Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of 3.0, maximum adjusted SAR of 4.0, electro-conductivity
range of 350 to 450 micro-mhos/cm [corresponding TDS range of approximately 225 to
290 mg/L], and pH range of 6.3 to 7.3. Microfiltration (MF) followed by reverse osmosis
(RO) was selected to meet this water quality criteria. MF will also allow the treatment
facilities to continue to meet the California Title 22 requirements for unrestricted use of
recycled water. Several chemical feed systems, such as calcium hydroxide and gypsum,
are also included to help meet the turf grass water quality criteria and to help stabilize the
corrosive RO permeate. Includes tables, figures.