California Athletic Field Complex Installs SIGMA Hydrotec Trench Drains

SIGMA’s Hydrotec Trench Drains provided a reliable, strategic drainage solution to an athletic field construction project in the Northern California town of Tracy.

The 166 acre complex, which includes 12 baseball fields and seven soccer fields, was scheduled for completion in February. However, significant rainfall during the winter delayed the project for a month. As a result, there was uncertainty about the facilities being ready for the start of the baseball season. In addition to the timing predicament, the topography of the site is completely flat, so drainage was a serious concern.

Hydrotec’s sloped system provided the solution
Placing the high point behind the backstops and running channels along the base lines caused the water to be diverted away from the fields and into catch basins. The catch basins were fitted with debris buckets to trap any material that would impede proper flow. This protects the fields, effectively manages the stormwater runoff, and compensates for the flatness of the surface.

Hydrotec also met the specifications. Both Class A Grate and Class C Grates were specified; in the end, Class C Grates were installed throughout the site because they accommodate vehicular traffic. In order to ensure that the surface would withstand the weight of construction vehicles, and maintenance equipment in the future, Class C was deemed the more suitable choice.

The condensed time frame presented an additional obstacle, but SIGMA devised an efficient way to overcome it. They treated each area’s trench drain system as a separate order, and created clearly labeled “kits” for each field. As a result of this efficiency, there was no sorting of channels, equipment, or installation materials onsite. The system that was measured and prepared for Field 3, for example, was palletized and delivered directly to Field 3. Upon receipt, the contractor was able to get right to work, and as a result, completed the job in record time.