Aqua Engineering was honored with two nationally recognized “Excellence in Irrigation” awards in 2018 by the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC). Both awards were presented in April during the ASIC National Conference in Quebec City, Canada.
The Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex (PAAC) in Yuma, Arizona was presented with the 2018 Honor Award in the Parks and Recreation/Sports Field category. The 50-acre project site includes a tournament level six-plex lighted softball/baseball field complex and a 1.6-acre lake which serves as both an amenity and storage facility for irrigation water.
The lake and pumping/aeration system and irrigation system was designed for maximum control of water application to the sand-based sports turf fields. The irrigation pump station incorporates lake-level control features that enable City staff to manage the water supply from two distinct sources: potable water and raw water.
The active fluctuation in ground water elevation was among the challenges presented during the lake design process. The lake lining system is designed to include a venting system that enables a pressure balance on the top and bottom of the liner to prevent it from “floating” as the groundwater rises, and seal off as the groundwater recedes.