Xylem Technology Delivers Best in Water Quality for the Largest Swim Meet in History

Xylem technology, including Defender filters, Wafer UV systems, Guardian strainers, Bell & Gossett pumps and heat exchangers, came together to support the recirculation of 4,800 gallons per minute. This water was continuously filtered down to 1 micron during the week-long event. After filtration, the water flowed through the heat exchangers to ensure a consistent and optimal pool temperature for approximately 2 million gallons of water.

And all of this water originated from a single fire hydrant just outside Lucas Oil Stadium. A few technologies were key in this water’s journey from hydrant to pool.

Filtration is key to delivering crystal-clear water. Water was filtered directly from the fire hydrant using a Defender Regenerative Media Filter, Wafer UV System, Guardian Strainer, greenDrive variable frequency drive and Dominion butterfly valve. This combination can recirculate each drop of water every three hours, ensuring the clearest and cleanest water possible for the competition and warm-up pools while also reducing odors associated with combined chlorine.

Heat exchangers and pumps deliver optimal water and air temperatures. Since its original construction in 2008, the Lucas Oil Stadium has already been equipped with Bell & Gossett shell and tube heat exchangers, Hoffman steam traps and more for the building’s heating and cooling systems. To make this event possible, temporary plate and frame heat exchangers were added to the building’s existing system to heat the warm-up and competition pools to a reliable 78-79 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam travels directly from the Indianapolis Central Steam Plant across the street and enters Lucas Oil Stadium via an underground tunnel. Heat exchangers convert the steam to hot water for the building’s heat, and some of the hot water passes through the temporary Bell & Gossett plate and frame heat exchangers to heat the pools.

“The water standards for this event are absolutely world class,” said Scott Holzborn, Xylem’s Vice President of Industrial Treatment. “We were proud to join partners such as Spear Corporation and Hydronic Steam & Equipment to deliver crystal clear water for both the champions in the pool and the viewers at home.”