Two construction firms fined S$77,000 for damaging water mains

03 JANUARY, 2019

SINGAPORE — Two construction companies were fined a total of S$77,000 after their work projects caused “serious damage” to PUB’s potable water mains, the national water agency said on Thursday (Jan 3).

HSC Pipeline Engineering (HSC) and SNK Engineering & Trading (SNK) were fined S$47,000 and S$30,000 respectively in August last year for their offences.

“The damage resulted in a combined water loss of more than 6,400 cubic metres, or nearly three Olympic-sized swimming pools,” said the PUB in a media release.

HSC was charged for damaging a 1,200mm diameter water main on Dec 17, 2016 while carrying out underground pipe-jacking works at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 8 and Woodlands Avenue 9.

HSC had failed to ascertain the physical location of the water main, resulting in the jacking machine hitting it, said the PUB. The water agency had to shut down the water main and “received subsequent complaints of discoloured water supply from commercial premises nearby”.

PUB added that the company had previously also damaged a 150mm diameter pipe in June 2013 and the offence was compounded with a fine of S$3,000.

In a separate incident involving SNK, a water main at a construction site in Cecil Street was damaged on Oct 2, 2017 as the construction firm was carrying out removal works of an existing drain to construct a new drain and walkway. 

SNK punctured a hole on the water main when hacking the existing drain, which resulted in 360 cubic metres of water loss, said the PUB.

It had failed to abide by the PUB’s protection guidelines on working near water mains, and did not exercise the necessary precautions to minimise the risk of damage, added the agency. This was the company’s first offence.

“In severe cases, damaged mains can lead to a disruption in water supply or discoloured water to nearby amenities and cause inconvenience to users,” said Mr Ridzuan Ismail, PUB’s director of water supply (network) department.

“We urge all contractors to exercise utmost caution and ensure adequate measures are in place when carrying out works near water mains.”

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.

Offences that fall under the Public Utilities (Protection of Water Pipes Infrastructure) Regulations carry 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 those who cause damage to mains above 300mm in diameter will be prosecuted in court.