The start of the cricket season has been met with dry conditions with spring rainfall 35% down on average.
The Environment Agency has warned of potential water shortages while some water companies have issued water conservation advice to their customers.
While cricket is not a large consumer of water it is important in the preparation of safe pitches.
Recreational cricket clubs are looking at ways they can play their part to conserve water while also ensuring that the pitches we play on are safe and avoid cancellation of matches.
To help cricket clubs we have provided FIVE things you can do to help conserve water and ensure safe pitches:
- When preparing pitches, make sure you’re applying water only where it is needed (and not wasting, where it is not). Use hand watering techniques and don’t over apply water so it runs off where it isn’t needed. The Grounds Management Association has a toolkit for cricket ground managers which provides advice on watering in hot dry weather. Effective and Efficient Watering in Hot, Dry Weather | Grounds Management Toolkit
- When applying water to pitches – limit losses from evaporation by irrigating in the evening when it is cooler and water can infiltrate into the ground overnight (watering during the hottest part of the day can see as much as half the water you apply lost to evaporation and through the grass plant).
- If you have access to covers, you can use these to reduce these losses too by trapping water in the ground after irrigating.
- In the clubhouse, fix leaks, turn off taps when not in use and keep shower times to a minimum.
- Consider investing in drought resilience projects like rainwater harvesting, using a borehole to reduce drinking water consumption or purchasing more water efficient equipment. ECB funding might be available for your project – speak to your County Cricket Board and click on this link for further information.