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Below is information on our latest Projects:
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Tyco Water supplies Australia's most outstanding project for 2008
Perth’s saltwater desalination plant was recently declared as Australia’s most outstanding example of construction excellence at the 2008 Australian Construction Achievement Award dinner, held in Melbourne on Friday the 9th of May 2008. The award was presented by the governor-general of Australian Michael Jeffrey and was accepted by Marshall Hudson on behalf of Brookfield Multiplex.
Tyco Water successfully provided Mild Steel Cement Lined SINTAKOTE® DN1200 & DN1400 pipes, connecting the Desalination plant to the Thomson reservoir and the Thomson reservoir to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Tyco Water also supplied the DN200 Ductile Iron pipe and fittings for the fire service ring main at the Desalination Plant Site.
Perth’s desalination plant is a classic example of how Tyco Water continues to provide superior pipeline products, to many of Australia’s most significant engineering feats.
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| Goldfields SUPERPIPE Link– Bendigo to Ballarat
Victoria (2008) – The $180 million Ballarat link of the Goldfields SUPERPIPE, will provide Ballarat with an extra 10,000 megalitres of water each year. The pipeline, from Bendigo’s Sandhurst Reservoir to Ballarat’s White Swan Reservoir, will effectively secure Ballarat’s water supply for the next 50 years.
Tyco Water has recently completed supply to the 89.5km Ballarat link of the Goldfields SUPERPIPE. Supplying 47km of SINTAKOTE steel pipe and fittings and 42km of Ductile Iron pipe and fittings, Tyco Water called on the dedicated services of its SINTAKOTE Steel Pipeline Systems Somerton manufacturing facility, Ductile Iron Pipeline Systems Yennora manufacturing facility and Ductile Iron fittings Currumbin manufacturing facility, to supply all materials. A sustained effort from all manufacturing facilities enabled Tyco Water to provide most of the 800mm pipe, fittings and 56 valves prior to the January 2008 supply deadline.
This was a significant achievement for Tyco Water and it essentially leaves Tyco Water’s SINTAKOTE Steel Pipeline Systems Somerton manufacturing facility with the increased capacity to satisfy future demands. Tyco Water is continuing to expand its Australian manufacturing capabilities and this ensures the future of Australia’s water industry remains in good hands.
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Wimmera Mallee Pipeline
Satisfying Rural Water Requirements
With 85% of the regions precious water being wasted through seepage and evaporation, the efficiency of the Wimmera Mallee open channel water system was under scrutiny. The Wimmera Mallee pipeline aims to eradicate this wastage and provide an effective and sustainable water supply system. A significant water resource management project, this pipeline would essentially supply stock and domestic water to over 36 towns.
Tyco Water recently completed delivery of Stage one of its supply contract to this project. This involved over 70km's of DN1000/700 SINTAJOINT steel pipeline system. Some 64km's of this large diameter steel pipeline has recently been successfully hydrostatically pressure tested by the installation contractor, Mitchell Water Australia Pty. Ltd.
Mitchell Water Australia Pty. Ltd. have commended Tyco Water on the quality of its SINTAJOINT steel pipeline system. The fact that Tyco Water has been able to supply 64km’s of SINTAJOINT steel pipeline system, without a single leak or defect speaks volumes of Tyco Water’s manufacturing processes and overall quality assurance program.
With dedicated supply and unrivalled customer support, it is no wonder contractors look forward to partnering with Tyco Water on important water supply pipeline projects.
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Victorian Minister for Water, Timothy Holding visits Tyco Water’s new SINTAKOTE Steel Pipeline System manufacturing plant at Somerton, Victoria, Australia. |
19/02/08. Victorian Minister for Water, Mr Timothy Holding visited Tyco Water’s new manufacturing plant in Somerton, in order to welcome the release of the project impact assessment report and the preferred route for the Sugarloaf pipeline.
Tyco Water’s new SINTAKOTE steel pipe plant at Somerton will manufacture the 70km long 1750mm and 1404mm diameter Water pipeline. The SINTAKOTE steel pipeline system was ideally suited for this high pressure, large diameter pipeline, with the combination of high strength steel and world class corrosion protection providing the long design life this strategic project required. Increasing our capacity through the new Somerton plant, leaves Tyco Water confident of exceeding supply expectations for this and other Water supply pipeline projects into the future.
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The Burdekin to Moranbah Pipeline
Supplying local mines using SINTAKOTE Steel & Ductile Iron Pipeline Systems
Queensland (2007) – As export coal mining boomed, Queensland’s disastrous drought inhibited operations. The Queensland government had to find a solution. The answer was the 218km Burdekin to Moranbah pipeline, effectively acting as a lifeline to the local Moranbah region and indeed the entire Queensland mining industry. The Queensland government called on the quality of Tyco Water’s SINTAKOTE Steel Pipeline Systems to assist with this urgent project. Tyco Water recognised the importance of this project to the Australian economy and effectively provided 5.5km's of 813mm OD SINTAJOINT and Spherical Slip Joint (SSJ) pipe per week. Far exceeding supply expectations, Tyco Water’s efficiency can be contributed to both its commitment to the local economy and its locally based Wacol Manufacturing plant.
Overall Tyco Water’s manufacturing plants provided all 218km’s of pipe and fittings with the quality and commitment those within the industry have come to expect from Tyco Water. The pipeline consists of 172km of 813mm OD SINTAKOTE and 46.5km of DN750 Ductile Iron pipes, fittings and valves.
This $270 million dollar pipeline, is considered as one of Queensland's most difficult and significant pipelines, however, thanks to Tyco Water's commitment and co-operation such a significant project was completed well before the expected duration.
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Eyre Peninsula Pipeline
Reducing pressure on groundwater basins
South Australia (2007) - For many years groundwater extraction has been the main form of water supply to the Eyre Peninsula. Over recent years extraction rates have increased to a level far exceeding replenishment and this has reduced water quality and depleted supplies. As depleted water supplies began to impact the local economy, the South Australian Water Corporation decided to construct a 90km water pipeline connecting Iron Knob to Kimba, on the upper Eyre Peninsula
The South Australian Water Corporation called upon two contractors, BJ Jarrad Pty Ltd and Leed Engineering Pty Ltd, to construct this 90km water pipeline. The pipelines route followed the Eyre Peninsula highway, simplifying site access but presenting traffic management issues.
In order to ensure construction was complete by early 2007, the South Australian Water Corporation required dedication and reliability from its pipe supplier. Naturally, Tyco Water supplied all 90km’s of DN 375mm Ductile Iron Cement Lined pipe. Tyco Water ensured all Ductile Iron pipe was adequately protected, using Blueboss (Tyco Water’s blue coloured, Loose Polyethylene Sleeving, used to provide external corrosion protection). Tyco Water also provided contractors BJ Jarrad Pty Ltd and Leed Engineering Pty Ltd with a comprehensive training course, outlining correct installation procedures.
By January 2007 the entire pipeline had been successfully hydrostatically pressure tested. Through Tyco Water’s Ductile Iron Cement Lined pipes, the Eyre Peninsula pipeline will supply the Eyre Peninsula with up to 1.4GL of water each day, servicing SA Water customers between Kimba and Lock.
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Kwinana Desalination Connection
Tyco Water supplies an Australian first
C Construction workers lower the one piece manifold produced by Tyco Water
Western Australia (2006) – As Western Australia braced there worst two year drought on record, water supplies dwindled. The West Australian Water Corporations answer was a desalination plant in Kwinana, located 25km from Perth. An Australian first this desalination plant would begin supplying the Integrated Water Supply Scheme as of November 2006. Capable of turning 45 gigalitres of Indian Ocean seawater in to natural drinking water each year, Kwinana’s desalination plant supplies 17% of all Perth’s drinking water.
When establishing the $30 million pipeline connection it was obvious the West Australian Water Corporation, would select Tyco Water as a supplier based on the companies quality pipelines and components. Tyco Water was honoured to be involved in the construction of Australia’s first operational desalination plant and far exceeded supply requirements. Tyco Water provided Mild Steel Cement Lined SINTAKOTE® DN1200 & DN1400 pipes, connecting the Desalination plant to the Thomson reservoir and the Thomson reservoir to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme. Tyco Water also supplied the DN200 Ductile Iron pipe and fittings for the fire service ring main at the Desalination Plant Site.
Tyco Water has supplied the West Australian Water Corporation with the sort of reliability and support required for breakthrough projects such as the Kwinana Desalination plant to be such a resounding success. In effect, Western Australia becomes the first state in this country to employee desalination as a major public water source, effectively ensuring the states future water supply.
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SINTAKOTE Steel Pipeline System gets Starring Role in SEQ Water Grid Project
Tyco Water Receives Second Multimillion Dollar Order to Support Critical Queensland Project
Sydney (December 22, 2006) – Tyco Water, headquartered in Nowra, and a division of Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC; BXS: TYC), announced today that it had received the second multi-million dollar order to support the SEQ water grid project. The Queensland Government is installing a network of water pipelines, connecting all the major water sources in the region, including a 125 million litre per day desalination plant (under construction on the Gold Coast). In addition they are constructing a 200km long pipeline taking 210 million litres per day of treated wastewater to major power stations and industry in the region.
“We have just received our second order for SINTAKOTE pipes and fittings for the SEQ Water Grid and at $140M it is by far the biggest single order the company has seen” said Col Lewis, Manager Marketing & Project, Tyco Water.
Tyco Water Playing a Key Role in the Project
A majority of Australia is currently in the grip of the worst drought in over 100 years. Even the capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have had to impose strict restrictions on water use to conserve their dwindling supplies. The Queensland State Government has embarked on a bold plan, called the SEQ Water Grid, to protect the densely populated south-east corner of the state from running out of water.
“We believe we have been successful because the SINTAKOTE pipeline system has an unrivalled reputation for performance,” said Lewis. “Tyco Water has a track record of living up to our delivery promises. For these reasons we are hopeful of securing more orders for the SEQ Water Grid.”
The SINTAKOTE steel pipeline system is considered to be one of the world’s best water supply pipeline systems. This steel pipeline system can currently be supplied in sizes up to 1.8m diameter and features a thick protective coating of polyethylene, a long lasting lining of cement mortar and the patented rubber ring joint system called SINTAJOINT.
Tyco Water has a long history of satisfying the needs of the water Industry in Australia. Under various owners, the company traces it’s history from the Kalgoorlie pipeline that was installed using the innovative locking bar pipe in 1898. In 2006 it consists of a number of Water focused business units with a multi dimensional offering of Products, Services, Systems and Solutions. Product offerings are categorized by pipeline systems in Ductile Iron, Steel, PVC, ABS, and PE and fittings and appurtenances such as Valves, couplings, clamps. Service offerings include, nationwide customer centres, pipelines research and technology, pipeline renovation and repair, as well as under pressure tapping and line stopping.
Tyco Water employs over 1100 people at their 23 manufacturing facilities and distribution Outlets and are committed to satisfying, in an environmentally sustainable manner, all its stakeholders, including its customers, its employees and its shareholders.
Tyco International Ltd. is a global, diversified company that provides vital products and services to customers in five business segments: Fire & Security, Electronics, Healthcare, and Engineered Products & Services. With 2006 revenue of $41 billion, Tyco employs 250,000 people worldwide.
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Abu Dhabi Welcomes SINTAJOINT Pipeline System
Manufacture and supply is underway of more than 13,000 SINTAKOTE steel water pipes for the United Arab Emirates. These pipes and fittings will become the key component of a project to transport desalinated water from the capital Abu Dhabi to the eastern regions of the country. Over 2600 shipping containers will be involved in transporting the pipes from Tyco Water's manufacturing facilities in Perth and Brisbane, Australia. The high pressure rating possible with the SINTAJOINT pipeline system meant that the 42.5 Bar operating pressure was not a problem. Neither was the speed of construction required, with the rubber ring joint and 12m long pipe lengths enabling very rapid installation speeds to be possible.
For more information contact David Brady +61 2 9612 2473 (dbrady@tycowater.com) | |
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Gold Coast Water – Pumps & Pipes Project
Due to the rapid growth on the Gold Coast, Gold Coast Water needed a different approach to their need for new water mains across the city to ensure that they could continue to provide for the increasing demand and maintain a desirable standard of service to the community. To this end Gold Coast Water engaged Abigroup as the managing contractor and Sinclair Knight Merz as the designer, with strict targets to meet.
This is where Tyco Water stepped in, as Abigroup knew they needed a reliable supplier who would be able to meet their requirements and supply their entire pipe & fittings needs and after a rigorous tendering process Tyco Water was selected as the Sole Supplier for the project.
As sole supplier, Tyco Water was able to commit to production of the pipe & fittings requirements for each of the Sub-projects before they were awarded to the successful sub contractor and even though construction did not start till October 04 the team has been able meet the targets set for this financial year.
Tyco Water is supplying its full range of pipelines systems to the project from Ductile Iron TYTON 2100 Series, SINTAKOTE Steel and Tuf-flo mPVC Plastic.
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| VicUrban SELECTS DICL DUAL RETIC SYSTEM
VicUrban has selected Tyco Water’s ductile iron pipeline systems to make the Aurora development one of the most environmentally sustainable urban living regions in the world.
The Aurora Estate is the largest ever subdivision in Victoria. This new development located in Epping, a northern suburb of Melbourne, will have approximately 10,000 new allotments developed over the next 10 years. The feature of this estate, that makes it unique, is its attention on the environment and sustainability. The future residents will enjoy two water pipelines running side by side in a common trench servicing their properties. One delivering clean drinking water, the other delivering Class A grade reuse water. The reuse water will be used for watering the garden and other suitable uses, saving precious water.
VicUrban and its consultant, Coomes, selected DICL pipe for the dual pipelines because of its environmental advantages over PVC plastic pipes. Tyco Water manufacture DI pipe from 100% scrap metal and have an all encompassing working policy on Clean, Green and Safe initiatives throughout the business.
The dual pipelines will be distinguished only by the sleeving colour. Blue for water, and Lilac for reuse water. Stages 1, 2 and 3 have already been installed, including some 4000m of 100NB K9 DICL pipe and 700m of 225NB K9 DICL pipe.
Comdain, the construction contractor for the dual water mains, enjoyed the benefits of Tyco Water's TYTONLOK joint restraint system. Savings in both time and money were realised by eliminating concrete thrust blocks at fittings.
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New life Pumped into Coal River Valley in Tasmania
Tyco Water's Ductile Iron pipeline systems operate throughout Australia, and Tasmania is no exception. The Clarence City Council has been involved in working on this $16M re-use scheme to take approximately 2.5 billion litres of treated effluent, previously all being dumped into the river Derwent, and delivering it to the Coal River Valley. The scheme could irrigate up to 7000ha of agricultural land, opening up the region and stimulating growth that was once restricted by water shortages, while at the same time cleaning up the Derwent. Approximately 24km of 200NB, 375NB and 450NB Ductile Iron pipes will be used in the first two major stages of the pipeline system. The major trunk main consists of 450 PN20 TYTONXCEL DICL pipe. A pipe system easily capable of handling the rigours of handling, installation and freight over long distances, in this case from the mainland to Tasmania. Tyco Water is Tasmania's silent underground partner.
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Eastern Irrigation Scheme Stage 1 - Sandhurst Water Recycling Project
The Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon John Thwaites, officially launched the project in February 2003. The EIS will be the largest Class A recycling water scheme in Victoria, and is a significant project towards accomplishing long term targets for water reuse by Melbourne Water. The entire scheme will consist of over 70 kilometres of pipelines into Lyndhurst, Cranbourne, Clyde, Five Ways and Devon Meadows.
The residents of the Sandhurst Club will be the first to use treated water from the Eastern Treatment Plant. Being only 4 kilometres away, Sandhurst in in a prime location to take advantage of this precious resource and droughtproof gardens and parks for 1850 homes, as well as two 18-hole golf courses.
Tyco Water's premier SINTAKOTE Pipeline System was selected for this 4km trunk main, primarily due to the tight construction timeframe allowed. The 813mmOD x 6mm wall thickness x 13m length pipes were supplied in both SINTAKOTE rubber ring joints (RRJ) for speedy construction along straight runs, as well as welded (SSJ) Spherical Slip-in Joints around bends to eliminate the need for concrete thrust blocks, and realise savings in both time and cost. SINTAKOTE Pipeline Systems are an integral part in delivering a sustainable, reliable and secure reuse water supply. Tyco Water Pipeline Systems are the lifelines of Australia.
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Melton And Bacchus Marsh Connected To Melbourne Water Supply
In July 2003, the Victorian government announced that Melton and Bacchus Marsh residents would be connected to the Melbourne water supply via a 17km pipeline. The 600NB and 500NB Ductile Iron cement mortar lined pipeline will help provide a security of supply for the area that has been affected by many years of drought. The pipeline system is the culmination of many years of work by the local water authority, Western Water, who are responsible for the long-term security of supply for the region. The pipeline will initially be operated as a gravity fed system providing an early supply and giving some relief to the Merrimu Reservoir. The TYTON DICL pipe allows the pipeline to operate under high pressures and cope with onerous conditions including the large surge pressures expected within. Tyco Water's Ductile Iron pipelines are Australia's underground lifelines.
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Tytonxcel To The Rescue For New Mine At Douglas
Work started on a 19.8 km 450NB PN20 TYTONXCEL Ductile Iron Cement Mortar Lined pipeline in early - mid 2004. The pipeline stretching from Rocklands Reservoir to the Douglas mine site will deliver approximately 5000 million litres of water per year to a holding dam north of Balmoral for use at the mine site.
Ductile Iron pipes, being extremely strong and robust, are capable of withstanding the loads and excessive movements associated with soil in some parts of the area.
TYTONXCEL DICL pipelines delivery water efficiently and help eliminate water losses associated with channel delivery systems. Ductile Iron pipes are made of sustainable raw materials (100% scrap metal), and are in harmony with the sensitive environmental issues in the Wimmera Mallee region where this pipeline is being laid. Tyco Water Ductile Iron pipelines are in tune with the environment and the secure delivery of precious water to homes, plant, stock and industry.
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Tyco Water Australia Turns Water Into Wine In The Clare Valley
The $27M Clare Valley Water Supply system provides high quality water for the townships of Clare, Watervale, Mintaro, Leasingham, Sevenhill and Penwortham. The pipeline scheme can deliver 40 million litres of water per day, of which about half satisfies the demand of the Clare region. This scheme relieves water resource shortages for the region and delivers a secure, reliable, high quality product. Significant economic benefits and employment opportunities have also been identified. This 80km pipeline scheme features the TYTON2100 Series workhorse, namely, TYTONXCEL PN20 and PN35 ductile iron cement mortar lined pipe (featuring the ever reliable TYTON joint) and the BLUBOSS external protection system. The majority of the pipeline consists of the following sizes for the trunk mains and reticulation pipelines: 200, 250, 300, 375, 450, 500 and 750mm nominal bore. PN20 and PN35 TYTONXCEL pipes have been selected on the basis of lowest long-term cost, best long-term reliability, added flow capacity and pressure performance requirements up to 2000kPa and 3500kPa.
Twelve kilometers of 813mmOD x 5.5mm wall thickness x 13.37m long Mild Steel SINTAKOTE pipelines were installed to feed the downstream system. The SINTAJOINT rubber ring joining system allowed speedy laying of 13.37m pipes.
Tyco Water ductile iron and mild steel pipeline systems help deliver water that will be turned into wine. Think of us the next time you’re enjoying a flavorsome Clare red. | |
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Lakes Entrance Main Supply, Pipeline Augmentation - Harmans Rd to Swan Reach.
Tyco Water proudly announces that it has supplied approximately 5.7km of 375mm K9 Ductile Iron cement mortar lined pipes securing water supply for the residents and tourist population of Lakes Entrance. The majority of the pipeline travels along the busy Princes Highway.
Ductile Iron pipe is often chosen due to its inherent strength. Capable of taking huge traffic loads and other unknown external forces that compromise weaker pipe materials. The ring stiffness of ductile iron pipes is unmatched by any other pipeline system. East Gippsland Water has is this case chosen the most economical and safest pipeline available in Australia.
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Sintapipe – Satisfying Singapore’s Supply Situation
The majority of Singapore’s water supply is provided via pipelines from Malaysia. To supplement this supply the Singapore Government is reclaiming water from secondary treated sewage effluent using membrane technology and constructing a network of pipelines to transport this higher grade water around the island.
The pipeline system had to satisfy very onerous criteria:
- it cannot affect the water chemistry in anyway.
- it must be able to withstand working pressures of 1.6 MPa for over 50 years.
- it cannot be affected by aggressive (corrosive) ground conditions.
- it must be able to withstand very high external loading.
- it must have the ability to be constructed without the need for concrete thrust blocks due to the close proximity of the other buried services.
The solution was SINTAPIPE and to date over 20km of SINTAPIPE have been either installed or are approved for installation.
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And we thought it was dry back then….
On 30th January 2003, Queensland had drought declared 80 shires, 2 part shires & 650 individual properties. This represents almost 50% of the state.
The following story appeared in our “Flow On” Magazine in October 1995.
Due to the desperate drought conditions that were occurring a 75 km long DN900 pipeline was required.
Speed was of the essence. Receiving an order on 1 March 1995, we had the first pipes on side by 21 March and all pipes, fittings and valves there by end September 1995
Australia's ongoing drought is one of the most severe on record with Queensland one of the worst affected states. Queensland's Department of Primary Industries' 'Drought Bulletin' of 11 May 1995, lists 41 shires, 5 part shires and 782 individually drought declared properties, in all, 37% of the state.
As far back as mid 1994 it was recognised that if the drought did not break in the upper Boyne River catchment during the 1994-95 wet season, it would affect far more than the farming and rural communities.
The Upper Boyne River catchment provides water for the Boondooma Dam, which is the water storage for Tarong Power Station. This power station, owned and operated by AUSTA Electric, has four 350 MW generating units. It is one of the state's most important power stations, supplying about 40% of Queensland's electricity needs. The loss of this generating capacity would be devastating to all Queensland industry.
The Boondooma dam has a capacity of 212,000 megalitres, by mid 1994, the storage had dropped to 42,000 megalitres, some 20% of full capacity. With the power station and evaporation consuming around 1% of the storage capacity per month, continuation of the drought meant the power station would be out of action in 18 months. Planning for an alternative water source began immediately, with the construction set to start in March 1995, should the wet season fail again. The most economical source of water for the power station was the upper areas of the Wivenhoe Dam, below the Somerset Dam wall, some 78km from the Tarong Power Station storage.
Due to the critical nature of this pipeline, the system specified was Tubemakers Water's SINTAKOTE® mild steel cement-lined pipe with the unique SINTAJOINT® rubber ring jointing system. AUSTA Electric, through its construction contractor Leighton Holdings (Leighton Contractors), began construction of the pipeline in mid March 1995 following failure of the wet season to provide sufficient water to guarantee uninterrupted operation of the power station. The design capacity of the pipeline is 880 l/s (76 ML/day) requiring four pump stations operating at pressures up to 4.4 MPa.
The project has been fast tracked to meet the tight schedule. Tubemakers Water - Steel Pipeline Systems has worked closely with AUSTA Electric and Leighton to ensure each pipeline component is delivered in sequence. Wherever possible, all pipeline components have been standardised, so that even on a project of this size and complexity, there are only a few different fitting types.
Where required, special fittings have been prefabricated to maximise the advantage of the SINTAJOINT rubber ring joint system and thus minimise construction time on site. All pipes, fittings and specials have been manufactured at Tubemakers Water - Steel Pipeline Systems manufacturing facility at Wacol, Brisbane.
The SINTAJOINT pipes are supplied in 13.37M effective lengths. These extra long pipes have saved Leightons and the contract principal considerable time in construction. The 13.37m long pipes reduce the number of joints to be made in the field by approximately 12%, or about 700 joints in total on a project of this size.
To ensure minimum disruption to pipe supply and the correct transportation and handling of the pipeline system components, Tubemakers Water - Training Enterprise designed a special training programme for the transportation company involved in the project. The programme has been a great success.
The project is continuing at great speed, with security of water supply for the Tarong Power Station and the energy needs of Queensland just around the corner.
Order received 1 March 1995, supply started 21 March 1995 and finished 30 September 1995.
| THE GOLDEN PIPELINE
The world’s largest water pipeline project of its time
Celebrating 100 years of continuous service on 24th Jan 2003
The discovery of gold in Western Australia at Coolgardie in 1892, and Kalgoorlie in 1893, set off a rush that attracted a large number of immigrants to the dry centre of the state. The Eastern Railway to Kalgoorlie required good quality water for the operation of the steam engines, and the growing population increased demand for a reliable domestic water supply. The Goldfields region suffered from long periods of drought due to erratic rainfall patterns. A comprehensive investigation of both above and below ground water resources in the area around Kalgoorlie revealed no adequate, or reliable, source of potable water. In 1895 work commenced on the design of a scheme to provide 22.7 megalitres of water per day to Kalgoorlie from a dam on the Helena River near Mundaring. |
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The Product
The designers chose the Mephan Ferguson Lock Bar steel pipeline system over the riveted and welded steel pipe alternatives. The Lock Bar design provided a 100% efficient joint in the manufacture of the pipe. This allowed for the use of thinner steel plate, thus reducing both the cost and weight of each pipe. Equally as important, the Lock Bar design provided a reduction in fluid friction loss of 25% to an equivalent riveted pipe. This provided savings in the capital cost of pumps, and the ongoing operating cost of pumping.
The Lock Bar steel pipe design was innovative, and proved to be well suited to the engineering requirements of the Coolgardie Water Scheme. Manufacture of Lock Bar steel pipes continued for about 40 years both domestically and internationally. |
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The Solution
The Coolgardie Water Scheme required 566km of 760mm diameter steel pipe – over 66,000 pipes measuring 8.5m each, the construction of a dam on the Helena River 230m long and 30m high, and the construction of eight steam powered pumping stations located along the pipeline route.
In October 1898 contracts were signed with Mephan Ferguson (now Tyco Water) and G. & C. Hoskins for the manufacture and supply of pipe, with each making half of the total pipes required. The pipes were to be Lock Bar steel pipes as designed and patented by Mephan Ferguson in 1896. Mephan Ferguson established a manufacturing facility on the main railway line east of Perth. Steel for the pipe was imported from the United States, Germany and England. |
The Result
The Coolgardie Water Scheme was officially opened on 24th January 1903. The pipeline will celebrate 100 years of continuous operation on 24th January 2003, with some 350km of the original Lock Bar steel pipe still in service.
The design for 22.7 megaliters per day exceeded what was required in 1895, but provided for growth in both the Goldfields and the agricultural areas along the pipe route. The last 100 years of development have confirmed the value of this design decision.
The Coolgardie Water Scheme marked the beginning of steel pipe manufacture in Western Australia by Tyco Water. It began with Mephan Ferguson and continues today with the Tyco Water steel pipe plant located at Kwinana, south of Perth.
For more information click on www.goldenpipeline.com.au
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