Historic Del Mar Racetrack Pond Filtration System

The historic Del Mar Racetrack & Fairgrounds in Southern California operates a large central pond that serves as a prominent feature within the property. As part of a broader sustainability initiative, the facility sought to improve how pond water was treated, reused, and managed prior to discharge.

Integrated-Aqua supplied a comprehensive pond filtration and water-quality monitoring solution designed to support increased water recirculation, improve water quality, and provide the instrumentation needed to verify that discharged water met applicable quality requirements.

The Challenge

Large commercial ponds can accumulate suspended solids, organic debris, and other contaminants that affect water clarity and complicate water reuse and discharge management.

At Del Mar, the project was driven by an increased focus on sustainability and responsible water use. Rather than continually replacing or discharging pond water, the facility wanted to maximize recirculation while ensuring that any water leaving the system could be properly treated and monitored.

The solution therefore needed to combine high-capacity mechanical filtration with reliable controls and comprehensive water-quality instrumentation.

The IAS Solution

IAS supplied HEX™ Drum Filters equipped with Integrated Drum Filter Control Systems (DFC) to provide automated mechanical filtration for the main pond.

HEX Drum Filters continuously remove suspended solids from recirculating water through fine-screen filtration. As solids accumulate on the filter screens, the automated backwash system cleans the filtration surface, allowing the equipment to maintain consistent performance with minimal operator intervention.

The Integrated DFC system coordinates drum filter operation and backwash sequencing, providing a centralized control platform designed for dependable day-to-day operation in demanding commercial water-management applications.

By integrating automated solids removal into the pond circulation system, the filtration package enables more water to be treated and returned to the pond rather than replaced or discharged.

Water Quality Monitoring and Discharge Verification

Filtration was only one component of the project. IAS also supplied a comprehensive instrumentation package to measure critical water-quality parameters.

This monitoring capability allows facility operators to evaluate treatment performance and confirm water quality prior to discharge. The combination of treatment and instrumentation provides a more complete approach to water management—helping operators understand system conditions, document performance, and make informed operational decisions.

For facilities facing increasingly stringent sustainability objectives and discharge requirements, integrating filtration with water-quality monitoring can provide significant operational value.

Supporting Sustainable Commercial Water Management

The Del Mar Racetrack & Fairgrounds project demonstrates how modern pond filtration technology can extend beyond water clarity to become an important component of a broader water-management strategy.

By combining HEX Drum Filters, integrated automation, and water-quality instrumentation, IAS delivered a system designed to:

• Increase pond water recirculation and reuse
• Remove suspended solids through automated mechanical filtration
• Reduce dependence on water replacement and unnecessary discharge
• Provide real-time insight into water-quality conditions
• Support verification of discharge water quality
• Simplify operation through integrated filtration controls

For commercial ponds, large water features, municipal facilities, resorts, and other managed aquatic environments, effective filtration and monitoring can help reduce water consumption while improving operational control and environmental performance.

Integrated Aqua Systems provides engineered filtration, controls, and water-quality solutions designed around the specific hydraulic, operational, and sustainability requirements of each application.