Stefan Ljungdal, Course manager, Halmstad Golf Club

Jonas Henriksson, consultant, limnologist, IVL

Experience from a Court trial

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Our presentation

●Background

●Hydrogeology

●Toolbox for the Golf Courses

●Court trial process

●Authorities view on our business

●Scientific approach

●Lessons learned

●Conclusion

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Background

2006

The Golf Club is informed that they have 5 years to dismantle all use ofpesticides within the water protection area.

2011

Permit is needed for use of pesticides on golf cources in drinking waterprotection zones

Permit is also needed for the use of fertilizers within the protection zones

Coming up: A total ban of pesticide use in both primary and secondary waterprotection zone

Plan for stop using pesticides

2012-2014

Restrictions within the water protection area in the use of pesticides on greens.

2015

A total ban of use of all pesticides within the water protection area.

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Jordartskarta SGU

Soilmap

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

From the hydrogeological map (SGU, 2007):Where the body of water is dashed, it means that there is a denser layer of soil above

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Schematic sketch through the valley where the Nyrebäcken is flowing forward. Soil layers interpreted according to existing drill points and documents. The aim is to describe the likely existence of two groundwater reservoirs.

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

Primary (red) and secondary (blue) waterprotection zones

IVL |

Greens in the zones (yellow)

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Extractionpoints for groundwater(white)

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Ground water source

●The water source is filled about 5-10 km from the primary protection zone at Mjällby, Vapnö (Galgbergetinside Halmstad) and the Nyårsåsen

●There is a waterproofing layer above the ground water source in the primary and secondary protection zone

●Overpressure in the water source prevents superficial ground water from the protection zones from coming down to the source if the sealing layer is punctured

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Our Swedish Toolbox

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

17 N Green February

IVL |

11 N Green February

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

13 N Green February 13 N Green February

IVL |

Court trial

2015

Start court trial about use of pesticides

2016

Environmental Court and Supreme Environmental Court

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Jordlagerföljd green Soil layers green

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Soil water sampler ”lysimeter”, beneath the green

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL | EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Guidelines for permission process

●Risk assessment including precaution actions

●Only products approved by Swedish Chemicals Agency

●MACRO-DB show concentrationbelow 0.1 µg/l

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

Lessons learned

●To run a high quality Golf course without any pesticides is a dream, we are not there yet.

●It cost much money to prove your rights in court

●We must change permission authorities’ view of our business

●Scientific approach may help but experienced lawyers are needed

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

IVL |

A Swedish case -conclusions

●Our court trial has changed responsible authorities view of pesticides use at golf courses – maybe not all of them

●The process was costly and labour intensive

●The public view is that we are polluters –which is not true

●Combination of science and experienced lawyers was successful

EXPERIENCE FROM A COURT TRIAL

Thank you for listeningWelcome to Halmstad Golf Club