PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 21, 2017 -- Founded in 1901, Bala Golf Club ("Bala") is one of the oldest premier private golf clubs in the City of Philadelphia ("City"), and is announcing today that it has partnered with OptiRTC, Inc. ("Opti") to develop a comprehensive stormwater management plan and implement Opti's Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control ("CMAC") technology at the multi-million gallon irrigation pond in the center of the property.
This multi-phase project will allow Bala to optimize its on-site stormwater facilities to meet its irrigation needs, minimize flooding, and treat stormwater runoff generated from onsite and offsite locations, while achieving cost savings through stormwater credits and meeting the City's objectives to reduce stormwater pollution to local waterways. Other phases of the project will include local watershed studies and development of engineered design solutions to potentially manage stormwater from additional off-site locations, while enhancing the beauty of the Club's existing resources and land availability. In addition to Bala and Opti, other team members to the project include Amec Foster Wheeler, Viridian Landscape Studio, PEER Environmental, and the environmental law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP.
Located in the Wynnefield Neighborhood, Bala features a classically designed golf course and offers its guests the ultimate scenic experience and event venue. There are two existing stormwater ponds on the property that discharge to the Philadelphia Water Department's ("PWD") combined sewer system, with the larger pond serving to meet Bala's irrigation needs. During heavy rainfall events, Bala experiences localized flooding in locations adjacent to each stormwater pond. Bala will use CMAC technology to control the rate and timing of flow from the ponds, thus using their storage volume more effectively for flood mitigation, water quality improvements, and water reuse in accordance with PWD regulations. By minimizing wet weather flows to the City's combined sewer system, the Club is expected to earn credits that can be applied towards their stormwater bill.
"The Club is excited about the potential for this project to significantly and beneficially manage stormwater from both onsite and offsite sources contributing to the City's municipal sewer system," said Chris Barletta, Bala's General Manager and Head Golf Professional. "Bala understands the importance of this project to the City and is looking forward to a scientific and consensus driven design process to determine the best methods for long-term stormwater management at the Club and surrounding areas."
Philadelphia is one of 860 U.S. municipalities with combined sewer systems, the overflows from which represent a major source of water pollution. Nearly 60 percent of the City's sewers are combined, with more than 11 billion gallons of stormwater and its pollutants discharged into local waterways each year. To address this issue, PWD has implemented Green City, Clean Waters, a comprehensive plan focused on reducing stormwater pollution to the City's sewers with investments in both public green infrastructure projects and private partnerships. PWD, along with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), incentivizes private property owners to implement stormwater management solutions through the Stormwater Management Incentives Program ("SMIP"). The project at Bala is wholly funded through the City's SMIP grant program. "PWD is excited to work with both Bala Golf Club and Opti to address combined sewer overflow issues and help the club achieve its own environmental goals. The existing irrigation pond presents itself as a unique retrofit opportunity, and we're looking forward to being able to assess and monitor the long-term impacts of CMAC technology," said Erin Williams, PWD's Stormwater Billing & Incentives Program Manager.
"Integrating CMAC technology with existing stormwater infrastructure and future stormwater management plans represents a tremendous opportunity for property owners to meet complex environmental goals while also achieving significant cost savings," said Marcus Quigley, CEO of Opti. "As environmental stewards with shared objectives, we are thrilled to welcome Bala Golf Club to our community and proud to continue our partnership with the City of Philadelphia."
