Projects

RO06 Galati

21.07.06

HOBAS® CC-GRP WATERLINE® FOR LIESTI – GALATI, ROMANIA

Frequent and heavy rainfalls led to floods in large parts of Romania in summer 2005, causing extensive damage to housings and infrastructure. Among such, the Siret river dam broke in the eastern Romanian county Galati disrupting the fresh water supply for the city Galati. An emergency committee of the ministry of internal affairs immediately gave order to have the pipeline repaired and a quick decision regarding pipe material was made favouring the HOBAS CC-GRP WaterLine.

The removal of the old DN 1000 reinforced concrete line revealed some deficiencies that set the standards for the new line. It was important that the new line would be highly corrosion resistant, leak tight and have a smooth inner surface which would preclude deposits inside the pipe. The light weight of the future pipeline was another decisive aspect since it was not recommended to use heavy pipes regarding the given terrain.

Bearing these requirements in mind the authorities had to make a choice between RCP (reinforced concrete pipes), steel pipes and GRP. Fresh water is of course essential and time was therefore pressing so that the idea of steel pipes which needed additional inside and outside protection was set aside. The light weight of HOBAS CC-GRP Pipe Systems, their high corrosion resistance, their absolute leak tightness and their availability on short-notice finally convinced the authorities to opt for HOBAS.

The new pipes were installed safely approximately
10 - 15 m from the former line and the river shore. HOBAS Pipe Romania delivered 300 m HOBAS
CC-GRP WaterLine DN 1000, PN 10, SN 5000 within a very short time span so that construction works could be started promptly. The line also includes four
90° Bends and a Flange Piece that was connected to a valve.

The contractor was highly impressed by the ease with which HOBAS Pipes could be assembled thanks to the push-to-fit HOBAS Couplings pre-mounted on one end of each Pipe. In fact; the pipe installation proceeded faster than the trench preparation. Since the high quality of pipe material alone does not ensure an optimal quality of the completed line, a HOBAS Specialist was constantly at the constructor’s disposal, counselling him regarding the handling, storage and transport and installation of CC-GRP. Thus, the project was initiated in August 2005 and could be finalized in November with a pressure test.

From December 2006 on, the line provided the inhabitants of Galati as well as the largest steel plant of the region, MITAL, with fresh water.