A Landmark in Climate Resilience
The South Battery Park City Resiliency Project is one of NYC's most ambitious climate adaptation efforts. It protects Lower Manhattan from sea level rise and storm surge while setting new standards for sustainable design.
Zero-Carbon
Pavilion
ILFI certified
Stormwater
Capture and reuse
30% water reduction
Ecological
Four zones
Habitat restoration
Key features include:
- Zero-carbon pavilion with heat pump water heaters
- Stormwater capture and reuse for irrigation
- Low-carbon concrete and salvaged materials
- Four ecological zones with native plantings
- Flood barrier protecting the neighborhood
"Atelier Ten led the design team through the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) and ILFI Zero Carbon certification processes. The project integrates a flood barrier, low-carbon concrete, stormwater capture and reuse, salvaged materials, heat-reflective paving..."
The Overlooked Detail
The plan includes flood barriers and stormwater capture. It does not include scale prevention. The flood comes once a decade. Scale comes every day.
The Hidden Vulnerability: Water Systems Scale
Every water system in the Battery Park City project faces the same challenge: mineral scale.
Stormwater Capture
Captured water has higher mineral concentration than municipal supply. Irrigation lines, drip emitters, and valves can clog rapidly.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
The zero-carbon pavilion uses heat pumps. Every heat exchanger is vulnerable to scale, which reduces efficiency and increases energy use.
Ecological Zones
Irrigation systems for native plantings rely on clean water flow. Scale-clogged drippers mean uneven watering and stressed plants.
Public Amenities
Restrooms, drinking fountains, and public facilities all need reliable water flow. Scale causes low pressure and constant maintenance.
The bottom line: A resiliency project that doesn't protect its water systems from scale is like building a flood barrier but leaving the door open.
Real Proof: A Village in Spain Protects 1,640 Foot Well Water Pipe
Location: Vallirana, Spain
System: Village water supply from a 1,640 foot deep well
The Challenge
The village relied on well water with high mineral content. Before installing Vulcan, they had to frequently clean scale from the pipes and filters. It was a constant, costly maintenance cycle.
The Solution
Vulcan was installed on the main water line. For a municipal system of this size, the Vulcan S250 or X-PRO series provides the necessary capacity for large diameter pipes and high flow rates.
The Results
- "Typically, we would often have to clean the scale from the pipe and filters."
- "After installing the Vulcan this has not been necessary."
- Reduced maintenance, no chemicals, no salt
Why This Matters for Battery Park City: If a small village in Spain can eliminate scale maintenance on a 1,640 foot well pipe with Vulcan, the same technology can protect the stormwater capture, irrigation, and mechanical systems of NYC's flagship resiliency project.
Aiguees de Vallirana — 1,640 foot well pipe protected from scale
Why Scale Prevention Is Resiliency Infrastructure
Stormwater Systems Fail Quietly
Scale builds slowly. By the time you notice reduced flow, the damage is done. Prevention is the only strategy.
Heat Pumps Lose Efficiency
The zero-carbon pavilion's heat pumps need clean heat exchangers to maintain their efficiency ratings.
Irrigation Systems Clog
Native plantings depend on consistent water delivery. Clogged drippers mean dead plants and wasted investment.
Maintenance Costs Add Up
Every scale-related repair diverts resources from other priorities. Prevention frees up staff for real work.
Resiliency means planning for every threat, including the slow, silent ones.
The ROI of Protection
| Annual maintenance cost (scale cleaning, filter changes) | $25,000 - $100,000+ |
| Equipment replacement due to scale damage (10-year avg) | $50,000 - $500,000+ |
| Energy waste from scale-insulated heat exchangers | 12-25% of heating/cooling costs |
| Vulcan industrial model (S250 / X-PRO) | Login for pricing |
| Estimated payback period | 6-18 months* |
Get Exact Pricing for Your Project
For precise pricing tailored to your system specifications:
- Existing customers: Log in to your account to view model-specific pricing
- New users: Create a free account to access detailed pricing and configuration options
- Need assistance? Contact our team for a personalized assessment
Account registration takes less than 2 minutes.
* Savings and payback vary based on system size, water conditions, and existing scale buildup.
Selecting the Right Model for Resiliency Projects
Different system sizes require different Vulcan models. Create an account to view detailed specifications and pricing.
| Application | Typical Pipe Size | Recommended Model | Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stormwater capture, small irrigation | 2-4 inches | Vulcan S25 or S50 | 130-300 GPM |
| Heat pump systems, pavilion mechanicals | 3-6 inches | Vulcan S50 or S100 | 300-530 GPM |
| Main water lines, district systems | 6-10 inches | Vulcan S150 or S250 | 790-1,540 GPM |
| Very large municipal systems | 10-40 inches | Vulcan X-PRO 1 or X-PRO 2 | Unlimited |
The Design Opportunity
For projects like Battery Park City, the time to include scale prevention is during design, not after problems appear.
Design Phase
Include Vulcan in specifications. Size for future needs.
Construction
Install during build-out. No retrofitting needed.
Commissioning
Document baseline performance. Set efficiency benchmarks.
Operations
Zero maintenance, sustained efficiency, no scale.
The best time to prevent scale is before it starts.
Protecting Resiliency Infrastructure
- Include scale prevention in design specs. It's easier to install during construction.
- Size for future needs. Consider ultimate build-out capacity.
- Document baseline performance. Know what "clean" looks like.
- Train operations staff. Vulcan requires no maintenance, just awareness.
- Monitor periodically. Verify that efficiency is maintained.
- Need assistance? Contact our team for a project assessment.
Protecting NYC's Resiliency Infrastructure
From Battery Park City to community water systems, Vulcan prevents scale before it starts.
About the Author
Waslix provides non-chemical, maintenance-free scale prevention using Vulcan technology. We help resilient infrastructure projects protect their water systems from the slow, silent threat of mineral scale. Create an account for detailed model specifications and pricing.
