A report on Hungary’s water utilities? Bicske’s water supply relied on a single pipe that was half a century old

Bicske is modernising one of its most critical public utilities by replacing the town’s sole main water supply pipeline, which has been providing drinking water for more than half a century. Details of the project are set out in the notice published by kozbeszerzes.hu contains details of the project.

The local council of Bicske has successfully concluded the public procurement procedure for the replacement of the main drinking water pipeline on Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street. The construction work will be carried out by Sárépszer Építőipari Kft. for a net sum of 295,092,475 forints.

The background to this project is that the local authority intends to construct a modern road surface and a new stormwater drainage system on Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street. However, the planned works will directly affect the DN300 drinking water main running along the street, and it has therefore become essential to replace it.

The town’s water supply depended on a single pipe

The public procurement documentation specifically emphasises that

The DN300 pipeline running along Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street is Bicske’s sole drinking water supply pipeline, which, on its own, ensures the town’s water supply from its own water source and from the ÉDV Zrt. network.

The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that this main pipeline has been in operation for more than 50 years , which, according to the documentation, poses an exceptional risk in itself. For this very reason, the existing steel pipeline is being replaced with a state-of-the-art D315 KPE pipeline.

As the town’s water supply can currently only be provided via this main pipeline, temporary, alternative water supply routes must be established whilst the works are in progress.

Not just cable replacement, but a complete network upgrade

As part of the project, water mains will be replaced, new mains will be laid and connecting sections designed to improve operational reliability will be constructed over a total length of 1,340 running metres.

The most significant element is the new, 509.7-metre-long D315 KPE main pipeline, which is being constructed on Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street and will connect to the network on Rózsa Street.

In addition, several new connecting cables are being installed:

• one 192.5 metres a parallel distribution line running alongside the main line;
• one 247.2 metres a new distribution line on the opposite side of Main Road No. 1;
• one 207.1 metres connection between the end of the cable on Szent László Street and the network beyond Main Road No. 1;
• one 309.4 metres a cable linking the Mányi út network to the existing system;
• as well as a 400.7 metres a new section of pipeline running from Ravasz László Street towards Csók István Street, which connects to the Erdőalja Street network.

As part of the development, a total of 69 new junctions will also be built.

The construction work affects several junctions

Several major road junctions will need to be constructed during the works.

The new D315 main pipeline, as well as the D110 and D160 pipelines, cross Main Road No. 1, whilst the connecting pipeline leading towards Mány crosses the No. 1104 Bicske–Mány link road , and then continues along a route running parallel to the public road.

The total duration of the works contract is 240 calendar days, of which 210 days are allocated to the works themselves, whilst 30 days are set aside for the technical handover procedure. The deadline commences upon handover of the worksite.