Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Construction firm fined S$44k for damaging water mains, disrupting water supply in Tampines

SINGAPORE – A construction company was fined a total of S$44,000 for failing to follow regulations and damaging a water main in Tampines late last year, which resulted in the loss of about 4,000 cubic metres of water – an amount that can approximately fill one-a-half Olympic-sized swimming pools.

PUB vehicles seen outside Tampines Bus Interchange. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY

PUB vehicles seen outside Tampines Bus Interchange. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE – A construction company was fined a total of S$44,000 for failing to follow regulations and damaging a water main in Tampines late last year, which resulted in the loss of about 4,000 cubic metres of water – an amount that can fill approximately one-and-a-half Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The PUB said in a media release on Monday (Aug 13) that construction company CCECC Singapore Pte Ltd (CCECC) was responsible for damaging the agency's potable water main at a worksite along the junction of Tampines Avenue 5 and Tampines Central 2 on Nov 3, 2017.

The incident led to water overflowing onto the road and caused an eight-hour water supply disruption to four commercial premises nearby – Tampines Bus Interchange, Eastlink Mall Food Court, Tampines Plaza and the CPF Building Branch.

Investigations by the PUB revealed that CCECC was subcontracted by main contractor Hexacon Construction to build an overhead bridge at Tampines Avenue 5.

Despite obtaining the water agency's copy of the PUB Water Main Service Plan and a list of the "Dos and Don'ts" on the prevention of damage to water mains, CCECC did not follow the Public Utilities (Protection of Water Pipes Infrastructure) Regulations to apply for approval to expose three buried water mains at the worksite.

The subcontractor also failed to provide adequate protection and install proper pipe supports for the exposed water mains.

Consequently, the PUB said the lack of preparation "caused a water main to dislodge at the joint thus resulting in (the) water leak". The leak not only disrupted water supply to the four buildings in Tampines, it also flooded the worksite trench – which measured 19 metres in length, 6.6 metres in width and was four metres deep – and overflowed onto the road.

CCECC was fined S$42,000 on July 3 for damaging a 300mm diameter water main. It was also fined S$2,000 for carrying out activities without the prior approval of PUB. This is the company's first offence, said the PUB.

Under the Public Utilities Act Section 47A to protect water infrastructure against damage, those convicted for causing damage to PUB water mains with a diameter of 300mm or more could face a fine of up to S$200,000, and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

The Public Utilities (Protection of Water Pipes Infrastructure) Regulations carries a maximum fine of S$10,000, and in the case of a repeat offence, a further fine not exceeding S$250 every day or part of the day during which the offence continues after conviction. 

Repeat offenders or damage to mains above 300mm diameter will be prosecuted in court.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.