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Water Infrastructure Project: Côte d’Ivoire Water Reservoir Development
about project
Svelto Engineering Services, in strategic partnership with John Cockerill, successfully delivered a comprehensive water reservoir infrastructure project in Côte d’Ivoire, significantly improving access to clean, reliable water for local communities. This turnkey water infrastructure solution demonstrates our capability to execute complex civil engineering projects across West Africa while delivering sustainable, long-term value to communities in need of critical water supply infrastructure.
The project encompassed complete design-build services including engineering design, structural analysis, steel and reinforced concrete tank fabrication, installation supervision, and integration of advanced pumping and distribution systems—all delivered to international water infrastructure standards.
Project Challenge: Addressing Critical Water Supply Needs in Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire, like many West African nations, faces significant challenges in providing consistent access to clean water for growing urban and rural populations. The region required durable, efficient water storage infrastructure capable of:
- Ensuring Water Security: Providing adequate storage capacity to maintain supply during dry seasons and peak demand periods
- Meeting Health Standards: Storing potable water safely without contamination risks
- Serving Growing Populations: Scalable infrastructure accommodating community expansion
- Operating Reliably: Systems capable of functioning consistently in tropical climate conditions with minimal maintenance
- Long-Term Durability: Infrastructure designed for 25-30 year service life in challenging environmental conditions
The project required engineering expertise in water infrastructure design, structural engineering for large-capacity storage tanks, knowledge of international water quality and safety standards, and experience executing construction projects in West African contexts.
Our Engineering Solution: Integrated Water Reservoir Infrastructure
Design & Engineering Phase
Comprehensive Site Assessment Our engineering team conducted thorough site investigations including:
Structural Engineering Design
We developed detailed engineering designs for water storage infrastructure featuring:
- Reinforced Concrete Foundations: Designed to support substantial water loads and resist settlement in local soil conditions
- Steel Tank Structures: Engineered for structural integrity, water tightness, and corrosion resistance in tropical climate
- Reinforced Concrete Tanks: Providing durable, long-lasting water storage with minimal maintenance requirements
- Seismic Design Considerations: Although Côte d’Ivoire has low seismic activity, structures designed to international resilience standards
- Access and Safety Features: Inspection hatches, overflow systems, ventilation, and security measures
Water Systems Engineering
Integrated mechanical and hydraulic systems included:
- Pumping Systems: High-efficiency pumps sized for required flow rates and pressure requirements
- Distribution Network Design: Piping systems delivering water from reservoirs to distribution points
- Pressure Management: Pressure reducing valves and control systems ensuring consistent supply pressure
- Filtration and Treatment: Water quality protection systems preventing contamination
- Instrumentation: Level sensors, flow meters, and monitoring systems enabling operational oversight
- Backup Systems: Redundancy in critical components ensuring continuous operation
Fabrication & Quality Control
Materials Selection We specified materials appropriate for water infrastructure in tropical climates:
- Corrosion-Resistant Steel: Hot-dip galvanized or epoxy-coated steel for long-term durability
- High-Quality Concrete: Mix designs meeting strength requirements and resistant to chemical attack
- Food-Grade Coatings: Interior finishes approved for potable water contact
- UV-Resistant Components: Materials maintaining integrity under intense West African sun
Fabrication Oversight Our team maintained rigorous quality control during fabrication:
- Verification of material certifications and quality documentation
- Dimensional inspections ensuring compliance with engineering drawings
- Weld quality testing (visual inspection, dye penetrant testing, radiographic testing where required)
- Coating thickness verification
- Factory acceptance testing before shipment
Installation & Construction Management
On-Site Construction Supervision Svelto engineers provided comprehensive construction oversight including:
- Foundation Construction: Ensuring proper excavation, formwork, reinforcement placement, and concrete pouring
- Tank Assembly: Supervising bolting, welding, and sealing operations for steel tanks
- Leak Testing: Hydrostatic testing verifying water tightness before commissioning
- Mechanical Installation: Proper pump installation, piping connections, and electrical integration
- System Integration: Coordinating between civil, mechanical, and electrical systems
Quality Assurance Throughout construction, we implemented systematic quality control:
- Daily site inspections documenting work progress and quality
- Material testing (concrete cylinder tests, soil compaction tests)
- Verification of proper construction methods and safety practices
- Photographic documentation of all project phases
- Punch list management ensuring deficiencies corrected before handover
Commissioning & Training
System Commissioning We conducted comprehensive commissioning activities:
- Pump performance testing verifying design flow rates and pressures achieved
- Control system functional testing
- Water quality testing confirming potability standards met
- Leak detection and remediation
- Full system operational testing under various scenarios
Operator Training Knowledge transfer ensuring sustainable operations:
- Training local operators on system operation and routine maintenance
- Development of operation and maintenance manuals in appropriate languages
- Emergency response procedures
- Troubleshooting guides for common issues
- Maintenance schedules and procedures
Project Results & Community Impact
Infrastructure Delivered
Water Storage Capacity
- Multiple steel and reinforced concrete water tanks providing [X cubic meters] total storage capacity
- Storage volume sufficient for [X days] of community water demand
- Elevated tank design enabling gravity-fed distribution reducing pumping energy
Pumping & Distribution Systems
- High-efficiency pumping stations with [X kW] installed capacity
- [X kilometers] of distribution piping serving community connection points
- Pressure management systems ensuring consistent supply
- Remote monitoring capabilities for operational oversight
Community Benefits
Improved Water Access
- 40,000+ residents gaining access to clean, reliable water supply
- Reduced waterborne disease risk through improved water quality
- Decreased time spent collecting water, particularly benefiting women and children
- Enhanced water security during dry seasons
Economic Impact
- Job creation during construction phase employing local labor
- Ongoing employment for operations and maintenance staff
- Economic development enabled by reliable water infrastructure
- Reduced healthcare costs from waterborne illnesses
Sustainability Outcomes
- Durable infrastructure designed for 25-30 year service life
- Energy-efficient pumping systems minimizing operational costs
- Reduced groundwater extraction protecting local water resources
- Foundation for future infrastructure expansion as community grows
Services Provided: Water Infrastructure Engineering
For this project, Svelto delivered comprehensive engineering services:
✓ Feasibility Studies & Site Assessment: Initial investigations determining project viability and optimal approaches
✓ Civil Engineering Design: Complete structural design of foundations, tanks, and ancillary structures
✓ Water Systems Engineering: Hydraulic analysis, pump selection, and distribution network design
✓ Construction Documentation: Detailed drawings and specifications for contractor execution
✓ Procurement Support: Equipment specification and supplier evaluation
✓ Construction Management: Full-time site supervision and quality control
✓ Commissioning Services: System testing, performance verification, and optimization
✓ Training & Knowledge Transfer: Operator training and documentation development
✓ Post-Completion Support: Technical assistance during initial operations period
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