WATER SUPPLY RING CONNECTION IN BARAKALDO

Area of activity
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Service
Water supply

Client
BILBAO RÍA 2000

Scope

• Detailed design project
• Construction management
• Construction site supervision

Duration
2010-2011

Due to the fact that the water supply pipes between Dolores Ibarruri and Botxo streets are not connected by 500 mm diameter cast iron pipe, it is mandatory to develop a project to connect both branches and close the ring, which according to the Barakaldo City Council is essential for the proper functioning of the network. The pipe in Dolores Ibarruri Street ends in a manhole, where the butterfly valve that closes this branch is located, while in Botxo Street it ends in a blind flange connected by means of a concrete block.

The purpose of this “500 mm cast iron pipe connection project between Botxo and Dolores Ibarruri Streets in Barakaldo” is to define and evaluate the works required for this connection. It will join the two ends of the branches of the existing network both in Dolores Ibarruri and Botxo Streets.

On one hand, the scope of the project includes the geometric definition of the layout of the adopted solution, of the works necessary for the replacement of the affected services and of the anchoring massifs of the elbows. On the other hand, it was carried out the corresponding staking out of the works, the signaling, beaconing and safety barriers were defined, as well as the environmental protection measures.

In order to carry out this connection, it will first be necessary to demolish the concrete massif located at the end of the supply line in Botxo Street, since it is our exit point.

The route of the line will present several breaks in its development, one made by means of an elbow of 22º 30′, located in the meeting of Botxo street with Portu street, which will allow us to take the line under the sewage collectors and the rest of the existing services in Portu street. Another break will be made by joining two elbows, one of 45º with another of 11º between Portu street and Dolores Ibarruri street, which will be used to direct the line towards the Dolores Ibarruri manhole.

Finally, to reach the level of the existing line, an 11º elbow will be used. In order to give greater stability and resistance to the different joints in the elbows to be made, a lightly reinforced concrete reinforcement will be executed.

Due to the fact that in Portu Street there are accesses not only for pedestrian traffic but also for vehicles (which carry out loading and unloading work in the stores in the area), steel plates will be placed over the trenches to respect the right of way of the vehicles at all times.