Access Engineering to rehabilitate Labugama and Kalatuwawa water treatment plants
Monday, 2 September 2013 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Access Engineering PLC, continuing its prominent presence in the water sector, has commenced work on the rehabilitation of the Labugama and Kalatuwawa water supply schemes in August of 2013 with completion planned within a period of three years.
The project, which has a value of Euros 34 million, is carried out for the National Water Supply & Drainage Board and is funded through a tied aid loan from the Government of Hungary.
Fovarosi Vizmuvek of Hungary is the main contractor while Access Engineering was selected as their local partner for civil works. The proposed scope of works is to be completed in three phases; namely design, construction and assistance in operations and maintenance.
The main objective of this project is to increase production capacities of both plants to their original designed capacities of 60,000 m3/day at Labugama and 90,000 m3/day at Kalatuwawa respectively, as currently due to various reasons, their capacities have reduced to 40,000 m3/day and 70,000 m3/day.
The Labugama and Kalatuwawa plants were constructed in 1886 and 1957 by the British to gravitate water to the Colombo area and are located in close proximity to each other, about 40 kilometres away from Colombo. They play a major role in supplying the Greater Colombo area with potable water even today, although some high capacity water treatment plants have been constructed in the region. The combined output of the two plants still account for over 20 to 25% of the region’s water demand.
“The two plants are planned to be completely renovated and rehabilitated while still in operation and will be carried out while maintaining the current water supply. Minimising possible interruptions, limited workspace and limitations in accessibility are some of the challenges that we currently face,” said Dhanushka Munasinghe, Project Manager of Access Engineering.
Proposed works undertaken by Access Engineering include the renovation and replacement of existing filters and clarifiers, intake well improvements, modification of aerators and other process structures, design, supply and installation of all M&E equipment, reconstruction and renovation of existing buildings, internal roads and site works, etc.
Access Engineering has provided services for many successfully completed large scale water supply projects in Sri Lanka which are currently in operation. These include the ADB funded Batticaloa water supply project and the Hambantota water supply project.
