Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) yesterday started work on a project to design and install 10 kilometers of water supply pipes according to the French technology with the total capital of US$69 million.

A view of the groundbreaking ceremony

The water pipe installation will start from Binh Thai crossroads, District 9 and end at Dien Bien Phu-Nguyen Binh Khiem intersection, District 1.

That is a bid package of the city’s $154 million project to reduce water loss ratio and expand water supply network in the phase of 2011-2015. Of the total funds, $138 million is Official Development Assistance loans from Asian Development Bank and the remaining amount is reciprocal capital from the city’s budget and Sawaco.

The pipe installation will be conducted by the joint venture of French contractors Construction Grands Projects and Bessac CW1 within 42 months under a contract signed in August.

Piles with diameter measuring 2.4 meters will help increase clean water supply ability from water plants in Thu Duc district to Districts 1, 3, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan in the center area of the city.

After the new system is installed, current pipes will stop operation for examination and repair if necessary. Afterwards the two systems will work together.

Previously, Sawaco has completed installing nearly 2.5 kilometer pipes of the same type from Thu Duc water supply plant to Binh Thai crossroads to connect with the start point of the new pipe installation project.

SGGP