Innovative water management strategies for sports fields: A practical approach to sustainability

Abstract

Today, factors such as rapidly increasing population, excessive urbanization, and unconscious con sumption of natural resources are causing negative impacts on both the quantity and quality of water resources. Therefore, concepts such as water-sensitive smart cities, sustainable urbanism, and green infrastructure are becoming increasingly important today. Considering the high number of football stadiums in cities and the high participation rates in football, these areas are causing significant water consumption. In this study, it is proposed that stadium water consumption, including field irrigation, lavatories, showers, toilets, and stadium cleaning, be met through innovative water management practices rather than relying on municipal water supplies. This approach aims to promote more efficient use of water resources and foster a sustainable water management strategy. Integrating football stadiums into water-efficient smart city concepts can offer significant benefits in terms of economic, social, and prestige factors. Therefore, we propose a sustainable and integrated stadium water management approach that includes commonly used urban practices such as rainwater harvesting systems, rain gardens, and greywater usage, as well as the treatment and reuse of rainwater and irrigation water from field surfaces. Creating an additional and inexpensive source for stadium water consumption, reducing surface runoff and pollution, lightening the flowrate on sewage networks, creating an aesthetic stadium surroundings, and reducing dependence on municipal water, this concept, which can self-sufficiently water consumption for much of the year, will transform stadiums into water-efficient/sensitive structures.