Causing damage to PUB water mains is a serious offence that compromises the reliability of the water supply and PUB will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against parties who flout these regulations
8 November 2016 - Two contractors have been fined for causing damage to PUB water mains.
Avenue Engineering Pte Ltd and Lian Seng Swee Construction Pte Ltd were fined for damaging PUB water mains at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 on 15 February 2016 and Fourth Avenue on 15 March 2016 respectively.
Avenue Engineering Pte Ltd was involved in a construction contract to carry out improvements to the roadside drains along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 on 15 February 2016. While carrying out hacking activities at the worksite, its workers exposed a 300mm diameter PUB water main and failed to provide proper support for the main. This resulted in a joint of the water main being dislodged, causing water leakage of about 300 cu m.
In a separate incident, Lian Seng Swee Construction Pte Ltd damaged a 300mm diameter PUB water main along Fourth Avenue while carrying out construction work for the Sixth Avenue MRT station. Lian Seng Swee Construction Pte Ltd was carrying out excavation work when its operator hit the PUB water main with the excavator, damaging the water main in the process. As a result, 95 households in the vicinity experienced water interruption and approximately 2,150 cu m of water was lost.
Causing damage to PUB water mains is a serious offence that compromises the reliability of the water supply and results in the loss of precious water and in some cases, affect water supply to customers. PUB takes a serious view of such incidents. Both Avenue Engineering Pte Ltd and Lian Seng Swee Construction Pte Ltd were charged under section 47A(1)(b) of the Public Utilities Act, which carries a maximum fine of $200,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both. Avenue Engineering Pte Ltd and Lian Seng Swee Construction Pte Ltd were prosecuted in court and fined $26,000 and $40,000 respectively.
It is mandatory for contractors carrying out works in the vicinity of water pipes to obtain service plans for the water pipes and carry out trial trenches to confirm the location of the water pipes. Good practices that contractors can exercise include designing the works to avoid the water pipes and setting the effective working area to be away from PUB water pipes during the planning and design stage. At the construction stage, it is important to indicate clearly the alignment of the buried water pipes within their work site with clear signages, and if there is a need to expose the water pipes for their work, contractors must engage a Professional Engineer to design and provide adequate support for the water pipes. Please refer to the annexe for a list of good practices/requirements to exercise when carrying out works.
PUB will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against parties who do not comply with PUB’s requirements, the Public Utilities Act and its regulations. The public can report such incidents to PUB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 1800-CALL-PUB (1800-2255-782) together with details of the location as well as photos and videos that would aid in PUB’s investigation.
ANNEXE
Good practices/requirements to exercise when carrying out works in vicinity of water pipes include:
During planning and design stage
• obtain services plans for the water pipes
• carry out trial trenches to confirm the location of the water pipes.
• design the development to avoid the water pipes
• set the effective working area to be away from PUB water pipes with sufficient clearance as required by PUB
• divert the water pipes away from the construction site if necessary
During construction stage
• indicate clearly the alignment of the buried water pipes within their work site with clear signages
• if there is a need to expose the water pipes for their work, they must engage a PE to design and provide adequate support for the water pipes
• notify PUB prior to any earthworks (eg: excavation, drilling, sheet piling, bore piling) in the vicinity of PUB water pipes
• carry out an instrumentation and monitoring programme to monitor the surface and subsurface ground movements, vibrations, and the displacement and distortion of water pipes
• install surveillance CCTV to facilitate the monitoring and recording of the activities on site
• update PUB on the latest project progress and subsequent project schedule, especially during certain stages where the effective working areas are in the vicinity of PUB water pipes
• educate the project team (including main contractor and subcontractor) to be mindful of PUB water pipes whenever the construction activities are carried out in the vicinity of PUB water pipes
Should there be any site constraints or challenges pertaining to the protection of water pipes, please contact PUB for further assistance.
About PUB
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the water agency that manages Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way.
PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water).
To provide water for all, PUB calls on all to play our part to conserve water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with water so we can enjoy our water resources. If we all play our part, we can have enough water for all our needs – for industry, for living, for life.
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