Water Supply and Storage Infrastructure Project: Sarzeda, Arnas, Cunha and Tabosa da Cunha

Municipality of Sernancelhe

Introduction

This article presents the technical project for the construction and rehabilitation of the water supply system for the villages of Sarzeda, Arnas, Cunha, and Tabosa da Cunha. The intervention focused on creating an efficient network of pipelines and providing strategically located storage infrastructure, ensuring the resilience and quality of the public water distribution service in the region.

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Context and Need

The project originated from a study developed by the Municipal Water and Sanitation System of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. However, due to changes in the pipeline route requested by the municipality, it was necessary to carry out new topographic surveys along paths not initially planned.

This change of route transformed a system that was intended to be entirely gravity-fed into a mixed system, requiring pumping sections. This led to the technical need to integrate two pumping stations and an additional 50m³ storage tank into the project to serve as a point of equilibrium and connection between the different hydraulic operating regimes.

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Summary of the Project Completed

The project consisted of the design and construction of a complex water supply network and several storage units, detailed as follows:

• Water Supply Network: Constructed predominantly of rigid PVC (Class PN16) to ensure resistance to high operating pressures, with the use of ductile cast iron in lifting sections and special crossings. The layout was designed to follow the natural terrain, minimizing high points and ensuring efficient flow.
• Storage: Construction of tanks with varying capacities (50m³, 100m³ and 200m³). The use of differentiated solutions is noteworthy, ranging from circular reinforced concrete reservoirs cast in situ to structures with high-strength precast elements (C35/45) connected by post-tensioning systems.
• Pumping Stations: Implementation of two electromechanical units equipped with centrifugal pumps (vertical single-stage and multi-stage) to overcome topographic differences and ensure the necessary flow to the reservoirs.
• Rehabilitation: Waterproofing and restoration of existing tanks using special adhesion methods with fiberglass matting and high-protection resin finishes.
• Accessory Components: Strategic installation of shut-off valves, triple-acting automatic air vents for air management in the system, and bottom drains for maintenance and cleaning operations.

The project strictly followed the standards of the General Regulation for Public and Building Water and Wastewater Drainage Systems (RGSPPDADAR), ensuring watertightness through hydraulic tests and operational trials before commissioning.

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