Each year, nearly 20% of the water produced and distributed by Acqua Publica is not consumed. The cause ? Repeated leaks that degrade performance. As part of the France relaunch plan, the Régie des Eaux du Pays Bastiais has launched a series of projects
Track them down water leaks to fight against waste. An approach that meets the expectations of 11e water agency program but which above all echoes the new environmental challenges. Better manage blue gold.
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Of the 300 km of pipelines that crisscross the territory of the Cab, 111,358 m3 of the resource produced are lost. Almost 25.55% of drinking water disappears in nature. A local figure close to the national trend estimated at nearly 20%.
The fault in particular with the dilapidated pipes of which some would have been laid almost 80 years ago. Over time, soil modifications, and interventions, weakened, they give way regularly and let precious drops escape.
A real subject that could find its answers in the France green recovery plan, the objective of which is to remedy this by doubling the rate of network renewal. Acqua Publica then applied for this system, via the water agency, and obtained financing up to 50% of the total cost of the work *.
Thus, since mid-March, four projects have been carried out simultaneously, in particular in the municipality of Bastia and San Martino for a committed amount of € 220,000. The work was carried out in the district of Monserato, the hamlet of Canale, the road to Mucchiette or in the place called Tavulinu in Cardo.
Five other interventions of the same scope will follow in the wake of the month. It is act I of the renovation of aging structures.
A threshold return of 76% within two years
“We proceeded in batches but each time it is a question of replacing the asbestos-cement pipes which predate the sixties”, underlines Fabien Bonifaci, hydraulic engineer at Acqua Publica who developed and supervised these contracts. He then details the objectives. “We have a performance obligation, which at the end of 2023, must not be less than 76%”. For the moment, the water authority of the Bastia region has a yield of 74%.
“It was 72% in 2019”, continues the engineer. A slight progression to get closer to the goal set. It should be remembered that under the Grenelle II law of July 12, 2010, establishing a national commitment to the environment, operators are forced to embark on improving the performance of their networks.
Then, the “Leaks” decree came into force in 2013, which created new expectations. To turn away from these obligations is to risk the managers of having the aid tap shut off. It is also a sign of poor management which wastes natural resources and in fine leads to economic losses.
READ ALSO: An investment plan to renovate the water pipes in Bastia
A low yield in fact induces having to pump more into the medium, generating additional treatment costs without being able to charge for this water produced but not consumed because it is wasted.
“In the field, we have two people who are working full time to spot these leaks on the main network. They proceed by auscultation but also during maintenance maneuvers of the required equipment, they carry out an inventory ”, specifies Fabien Bonifaci.
Miles of pipelines to replace
Once these 400 meters of pipes have been replaced, two other structuring projects will be launched at the end of 2021.
First, the replacement and relocation of the feeder transfer pipe 500 in the municipality of Biguglia. This is a 2 km network from the Lancone production plant to the storage tanks. Objective: to secure its route and facilitate interventions in the event of failure.
“We will also be working on the Pietranera-Miomo link for nearly 3 km. It is still a part in asbestos-cement that remains to be changed, for the rest, the vast majority of the network is in cast iron which does not yet prevent leaks. ” It is then the sectorization, with the installation of meters, which will make it possible to identify and better assess any losses on the network.
The 76% yield mark should therefore be reached within two years. If it is possible to do even better and more, by means of heavy work with the risk of increasing the user’s bill, the rate of 100% seems unachievable.
Financial operation up to € 110,000, Collectivité de Corse € 66,000, Acqua Publica € 44,000.
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