Project for a Pumping Station and Water Supply Pipeline: Ferreirim – Chosendo

Municipality of Sernancelhe

Introduction

This article presents the technical engineering project for the design and dimensioning of a pumping station and its respective pumping station, establishing the connection between the Ferreirim Reservoir and the Chosendo Reservoir, in the municipality of Sernancelhe. The infrastructure was designed to ensure the efficient transport of water, including the provision of a covered interchange for the future water supply to the Macieira area, optimizing the hydraulic planning of the region.

---

Context and Need

The project was based on a study developed by the Municipal Water and Sanitation System of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The intervention is justified by the need to overcome significant topographical and geological challenges in a territory characterized by extremely rugged terrain and steep slopes. The soil, predominantly composed of hard to very hard rock, required robust technical solutions to guarantee the integrity of the system under high static pressures, which in certain sections exceed 160 m.w.c. (meters of water column).

---

Summary of the Project Completed

The implemented technical solution focused on the resilience and efficiency of the lifting system, with the following highlights:

• Pumping System: Installation of an electromechanical unit composed of two submersible pumps operating alternately, installed in a reinforced concrete box. The system was designed to overcome an elevation difference of 163.027 m, with a calculated head loss of 47.3616 m.w.c. (meters of water column).
• Water Supply Network and Materials: Use of PN25 ductile cast iron in sections subjected to pressures exceeding 160 m.w.c. and in visible crossings (irrigation canal and aqueduct). For the remaining sections, PN16 rigid PVC was adopted. The route was preferentially implemented along streets to minimize construction in “cross-country” areas and facilitate access.
• Stability and Safety: Due to slopes exceeding 15% in specific sections, concrete tie and anchoring blocks were designed to resist longitudinal forces and hydraulic impulses, preventing ruptures and controlling thermal variations. Control and Protection Devices: The system includes full-bore shut-off valves, triple-acting automatic air vents for air management, and 63 mm bottom drains to facilitate cleaning and maintenance operations.
• Sizing Criteria: Continuous pressure loss calculations were performed based on the Manning-Strickler formula, for a flow rate of 1.63 l/s (increased by 0.36 l/s for the future Macieira water supply), ensuring flow velocities compliant with the RGSPPDADAR regulation.
• Quality Control: Hydraulic leak test protocol with pressure one and a half times the maximum service pressure (minimum 900 kPa), washing and disinfection prior to commissioning.

---

Would you like to see other projects in our portfolio? Explore our completed projects or, if you are interested in learning more about our hydraulic engineering solutions, contact us directly through the form available on our website.