Watering the surface, in addition to regular clearing and levelling, is a must. The ideal amount of water to apply is often difficult to gauge, as this depends on the intensity of use and on weather conditions, and so will vary. As a rule of thumb, the surface should always have a consistent ground moisture. The sand’s functionality is only ensured with a sufficient amount of water, as the water has a stabilising and binding effect on the sand. We recommend that the surface be regularly watered, but not overwatered. Overwatering the surface may cause fine particles, which help bind the surface and provide stability, to be washed up and can destabilise the surface. Too little water, however, will also have a negative impact on functionality and riding properties, because sand which is too dry will be too deep. Both over- and underwatering will negatively influence the surface’s grip and shear strength. There is an easy trick to determining the optimum degree of moisture for the footing: Take some of the sand from the top layer, and shape it into a ball with your hands. If it crumbles, it’s too dry, and if it dissolves, it’s too wet.