BROOKFIELD, CT United States Cold Storage (USCS) has been providing refrigerated storage services to the food industry since 1889. The organization recently chose to increase its presence with a three-phase expansion plan, totaling more than 500,000 square feet, with the first phase being the construction of a 230,000-square-foot cold storage facility to utilize truck and rail transport for shipping operations in Richland Township, Pennsylvania.

In January 2013, engineers from Bohler Engineering, based in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, were brought on to assist with due diligence exploration and were tasked with designing the new location, which would include the installation of a stormwater management system. Engineers from Bohler collaborated with Primus Builders and The H&K Group/Blooming Glen Contractors, Inc. to develop the new layout for the site.

Several stormwater solutions were considered, but the contractors ultimately selected cost-efficient CULTEC stormwater management chambers to provide detention, temporary storage of excess stormwater on-site and allow for infiltration in accordance with both the Township and State regulations. The team broke ground on the project in November 2013.

Originally the project was specified around a concrete underground stormwater management system at the request of USCS due to anticipated truck traffic. The H&K Group/Blooming Glen Contractors, Inc. had favorable results using CULTECs chambers on previous projects and therefore asked CULTEC to present an alternate design using its chambers. An alternate design specified with CULTEC's Recharger 330XLHD chambers was presented to and approved by Bohler Engineering as an "˜equivalent' alternative to the original concrete system from a stormwater management perspective. The CULTEC system was ultimately selected by H&K Group/Blooming Glen Contractors, Inc. based on cost-effectiveness, ease of installation and H-25 certification.

CULTEC's Recharger 330XLHD chambers are designed for traffic applications and are H-25 certified - capable of withstanding the weight of the tractor trailers that will visit the storage facility daily. This particular project included a total of 931 chambers that provide the site with 79,419 cubic feet of storage when surrounded by stone. A single chamber measures 30.5 inches high, 52 inches wide, and 8.5 feet long and holds 475 gallons.

The team faced various challenges during the design and installation of the stormwater management system. Originally nicknamed the "Great Swamp" by early settlers in the 1700s, the site required prep work including site stabilization and purging as well as consideration of the site's high groundwater. Contractors worked to install chambers around a number of light pole bases along the building, which presented further challenges during both the design and the installation phase.

"We had to manipulate the system a few times on-site due to the presence of the pipes, poles and other issues," said Rob Mitchell, Contractor with The H&K Group/Blooming Glen Contractors. "We were still able to get the chambers installed within four days because CULTEC's product designs can be altered out in the field if needed, offering flexibility and a much more accommodating option compared to various others systems currently on the market." 

"Overall the modular approach used to install CULTEC chambers makes them especially simple to put together and repair right on site," said Grayson Long, Project Manager at Primus Builders. "The installation on this project was quick and easy, and CULTEC representatives were always responsive if we had any questions. We would be happy to use CULTEC chambers on future projects."

In addition to the CULTEC chambers, several other stormwater management solutions are present on-site. Vegetated swales provide initial pre-treatment to eliminate fine particles from runoff. A combination of catch basins, water quality separators, manholes and HDPE and concrete pipes, remove up to 44 percent of total suspended solids from runoff. In addition, rain gardens absorb rainwater runoff from impervious areas before it is directed into the CULTEC units, which eliminate 80 percent of total suspended solids.

"Richland Township and Buck County Conservation District regulations and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program required volume mitigation for increased runoff volume," said Steve Walsh of Bohler Engineering. "This volume reduction was achieved using CULTEC's underground infiltration chambers in conjunction with other volume, rate and water quality best management practices proposed on-site."

Phase I of this project which includes the build-out of the primary structure, is scheduled to be completed in early 2015. Phases II and III, which will feature building expansions and a second underground stormwater management system, should begin in late 2015.