Consultancy for Water Distribution System

1. BACKGROUND

Solidarités International (SI) is an International NGO working with vulnerable populations, mainly victims of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Specialized for nearly 40 years in the coverage of vital needs, SI takes charge of emergency and reconstruction programs. Solidarités International's teams, made up of around 270 expatriates and nearly 2200 local employees, are today present in 18 countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Caribbean where they are particularly committed to fighting diseases related to unsafe water but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods.

In Lebanon, since 2013, SI has been intervening as WASH actor in North and in Akkar and Bekaa since 2016 to support the response to the Syrian crisis affecting the country.

The Syrian crisis is one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time, displacing 5.5 million people from their home country. UNHCR has estimated that over 1 million refugees have fled to Lebanon since 2012, while the Lebanese government estimates approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees present in the country. The influx has exacerbated pre-existing constraints in the country, and among the most pressing issues are polluted and limited water resources. Although Lebanon is in a fortunate hydrological position as compared to the rest of the Arab region, due to poor water governance and limited capacity to mobilize public financing in the sector, many residents are excluded from reliable and affordable services to meet their basic needs. With the current average coverage of the water network at around 79%, the majority of the water users are experiencing interruptions in supply – 20% of users receive water daily, averaging at 6 and 13 hours per day from public and non-public sources respectively. Lebanon’s water distribution systems suffer significant losses, and Unaccounted For Water (UFW) was estimated at around 48% as per the 2012 National Water Sector Strategy. Despite efforts in recent years to replace or upgrade existing water networks and control network tapping and vandalism, the levels of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) cannot be effectively monitored, as there is little metering at the production, distribution, and user levels.

Despite investment in infrastructure – largely through international loans and grants – and capacity building programs, as well as reform agendas and strategies adopted by the MoEW, WEs are still viewed unfavourably by users who are forced to resort to expensive private alternatives (water trucking, bottled water) or unlicensed boreholes, illegal connections to meet their needs. Households in Lebanon spend from 3% to over 10% of their income on water, which is more than the global affordability threshold (5% of household income as average financial expenditure on water).

Solidarités International is part of a national level, three-year, EU-MADAD funded consortium project with multiple NGO partners (ACTED, WW-GVC, LebRelief, ACF and others) and government stakeholders (Ministries, four Regional Water Establishments) aiming to improve water service delivery and governance in Lebanon.

 

1. Scope

Considering all the gaps and bottlenecks described above, the overall objective of this action is to support host and refugee communities in Lebanon to have improved access to sustainable WASH services.

Through an EU-MADAD funded project, SI will support the North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) by developing water infrastructure in Akkar Governorate, more specifically targeting the area under the coverage of the Qobayat local office under NLWE.

This Action will directly target a total of about 3,500 individuals, namely in the villages of Tleil, Saidnaya, Haytla and Al Mouzeihme through: Strengthening the WEs’ capacity to provide water services - as part of the National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS) - through the water distribution system n°20 (Project code: NL-W. H.17).

In Tleil and Haytla, infrastructure work was implemented in 2016, with the installation of water distribution networks, however this system was not connected to a functioning water source. In the case of Saidnaya and Al Mouzeihme, no distribution has been installed. In addition, Tleil, Haytla and Saidnaya have existing reservoirs, installed about 20 years ago. Thus, in all of the villages targeted, households rely heavily on private boreholes and on purchasing water (bottled water and water delivery by truck).

The action of SI will be in the form of an infrastructure project, which includes the establishment of a new water source by borehole drilling, installation of water networks (where it is required), ensuring sufficient water storage capacity and installation of water counters at household units’ level to sustain the water needs of the four villages.

The executed infrastructure will be handed over to the NLWE who will be responsible for its operation and maintenance, in addition to collecting fees from the users having subscribed, and ensuring that there are no illegal connections. The action will aim at increasing the trust of the community in the NLWE, and facilitate better coordination between the NLWE and the municipalities.

Considering the complexity and size of the water distribution system that will be implemented, SI will hire a consultant to design the system, which includes all aspects of the system, such as the distribution network, the borehole, and the reservoir, to mention a few. The consultant should have extensive experience and understanding of the area, and the state of the water situation in the area.

The consultant, below named as “Consultant”, will thus design the water distribution system and follow up and monitor some of the activities, in order to ensure the success of the project and facilitate reaching the objectives.

The Consultant shall conduct an Inception Mission to meet with the stakeholders, identify data sources, review all project tasks and prepare a detailed implementation plan. The Consultant shall submit a detailed Inception Report at the end of the Inception Mission.

 

The Consultant is required to design a fully functioning water distribution system to provide water to Tleil, Haytla, Saidnaya and Al Mouzeihme locations.

 

 

The design should take into consideration the following aspects:

 

2.1 Storage

The existing reservoirs in Tleil, Haytla and Saidnaya should be inspected and the capacity of each reservoir has to be measured. These reservoirs shall be integrated into the water distribution network, depending on the feasibility study’s results. The Consultant shall first inspect them to verify their usability. This is to be done by:

1. Structural Verification and Safety Insurance

2. Concrete and steel reinforcement investigation and tests 

3. Inspection of mechanical equipment

4. Finishing items inspection

5.  Water storage volume measurement

 

2.1.1 Structural Verification and Safety Insurance

The Consultant shall be responsible for the verification of the structure of the existing water reservoirs. The verification shall include the foundation, the walls and the upper slab. The verification shall identify if there is any failure due to aging or other factors and the repair methodology to be applied.

 

Moreover, the verification shall define whether the water reservoirs are safe and can carry the full load filled up with water, taking into consideration the dead, live load, and any other factor that can affect the structure.

 

2.1.2 Concrete and Steel Reinforcement Investigation and Tests

The Consultant shall perform several tests in order to check up and identify the causes of damage for both the concrete and steel reinforcement. The Consultant shall start with the following:

 

A. Visual inspection

The Consultant shall perform visual Inspection as a non-destructive method to assess the actual conditions of the concrete water reservoirs. During inspection, particular attention should be given to the following defects:

1.      Cracks or crazing

2.      Spalling

3.      Corrosion of steel and rust staining

4.      Honeycombing due to poor vibration or grout loss

5.      Varying color or texture

6.      Areas in which remedial finishing work has already been carried out

7.      External contamination or surface deposits

8.      Wet or damp surfaces

All the above-mentioned defects, if detected, shall be investigated and defined. A repair methodology shall be identified and priced in order to ensure the sustainability of the structure.

 

B. The Schmidt rebound hammer (ASTM C805)

The Consultant shall perform Schmidt rebound hammer to test the surface-hardness and provide a quick check of concrete uniformity. The Schmidt rebound hammer shall be applied to the different surfaces of the concrete reservoirs and the rebound number shall be determined in order to estimate the compressive strength and stiffness of concrete. The Consultant shall avoid the existence of coarse aggregate and voids near the surface which may slightly affect the result of the test. The Consultant shall provide a calibration chart for a rebound hammer along with its relative compressive strength.

 

C.  Durability and serviceability

The Consultant shall test the concrete durability and serviceability by a non-destructive method, after the approval from SI, in order to avoid any damage to the water reservoirs. The durability and serviceability of concrete water reservoirs shall be identified and determined throughout the whole structure and a repair method shall be provided, if the test shows a non-durable or a non-serviceable structure.

 

D.  Hammer Method:

The Consultant shall perform a hammer method test in order to check for voids and delamination. The different sections, where voids exist, shall be identified and assessed in order to provide a repair method.

 

2.1.3 Inspection of Mechanical Equipment

The Consultant shall inspect and test all mechanical equipment related to the reservoirs and the valve chambers and verify their integrity.

 

2.1.4 Finishing items inspection

The Consultant shall assess the condition of finishing items and shall provide estimation of quantities for repair where possible. Finishing items include fences, steel gates, steel doors, steel windows, glasses, waterproofing and painting.  Fences, steel gates, windows and doors shall be mounted with lock, handle and sustainable steel structure. The water reservoirs shall be waterproofed internally and externally to avoid any leakage or contamination of water.

 

2.1.5 Water storage volume measurement

Finally, the Consultant shall measure the capacity of the existing reservoirs in order to  assess the need of having additional water storage capacity within the water distribution system by building an additional reservoir or replacing the existing for bigger capacity. The operations cost of the different possible scenarios shall be assessed.

 

2.1.6 Reservoir Scenarios

 

The Consultant shall estimate the required rehabilitation of the whole water tank along with the undercoat (quantity and the quality for painting…). In case rehabilitation is not viable, the Consultant will estimate the feasibility and requirements for demolition and new construction. The Consultant shall integrate the capacity and geographical location of the reservoirs into the distribution system and verify the need for either one or multiple, based on the relevant data. The Consultant shall specify multiple solutions for the storage of the water in line with the design of the water distribution system, which should focus on reusing the existing facilities. Multiple scenarios can be proposed with higher efficiency and capacity.

 

2.2 Water Network

The Consultant will receive the documents regarding the existing network in the targeted villages. He will then assess the network and perform a random spot check test on the lines, and crosscheck the results with the documents provided. He will then go on to design the full network, reaching all beneficiaries, taking into consideration that it is important to reuse most, if not all, of the existing network. This design will primarily depend on the water demand of the villages, projected over 25 years to account for population growth, and should be in line with a topographical survey that the Consultant will perform.

 

The water network pipelines, materials of construction, line size, pressure releasing systems, bends, valves, end-use water pumping systems and water meters should be taken into consideration in the design phase.

 

The work includes the following:

 

1. Calculation and sizing of the pipes. 

2. Design and sizing the needed valves, fittings and manholes.

           3. Calculation and sizing the pipes for house connections including water meters and protection boxes.

 

Concerning the inspection of the existing network, the Consultant shall share with SI all relevant details he discovers regarding its condition and the correspondence with the document provided by SI.

2.2.1 Calculation and sizing the primary and secondary transmissions lines  

The Consultant shall be responsible to find the optimum path for the water supply network and to do all the needed calculations in order to size all the transmissions lines. The Consultant should follow all the standards, criteria and factors approved by the Ministry of Energy and Water in Lebanon in his calculations and sizing the pipes. The design should ensure that we have acceptable pressure and velocity at each junction, pipe and house connection.

2.2.2 Designing and sizing the needed valves and fittings

The Consultant shall be responsible to do all the needed calculation in order to design and specify the places for all the needed valves, fittings and manholes for the water supply network needed for a proper operation and maintenance of the network.

2.2.3 Calculation and sizing the pipes of the house connections

The Consultant shall be responsible to do all the needed calculations in order to size the pipes of all house connections. The design should ensure acceptable pressure and velocity at each junction, pipe and household connections.

The Consultant shall be responsible to specify and design all the needed valves, fittings and accessories for the installation of service connections and the water meters, including protection boxes.

 

2.3 Borehole drilling and pumping station

Based on the National Water Sector Strategy, the plan is to drill a borehole within Tleil cadaster. In order to confirm the location of the new well and to define a rough protection perimeter ensuring good quantity and quality, the Consultant shall conduct a hydrogeological survey, including: determination of the geological conditions, the aquifer geometry, the water storage capacities, water flow characteristics and the resource life.

Here under are consigned the sections (not exhaustive) to be part of the hydrogeological survey:

1. Geological Context:

Detailed section up to 600m or more below the ground level.

 

1. Hydrology:

• Watershed of the area surface and groundwater if there is a difference
• Rivers, ponds….

 

1. Aquifer Geometry:

• Determination of the Piezometric levels and hydraulic gradients
• Estimation of the depths and surface area of the water bearing zones
• Definition of the capping layer quality
• Definition of the unconfined water static level

1. Water storage:

• Estimation of the quantity of water stored (drainage porosity or storage coefficient)
• Estimation of the water quality

1. Water Flow characteristics:

• Estimation of the permeability coefficient
• Estimation of the transmissivity and of a theoretical exploitable yield at the vertical of the selected locations for the Borehole installation

1. Resource Life:

• Estimation of the exploitation potential over various time scales
• Estimation of the vulnerability of the resource in term of its water quality

1. Assessment of the surrounding wells:

The Consultant is requested to survey the depth, piezometric level and hydrogeological connectivity of the borehole and will be studying the interaction between the new well created/drilled and the private wells. This study will provide the enumeration of all the private boreholes, their location, depth, withdrawal from the owner, and hydrogeological connectivity of the private boreholes and the new wells and the possible disturbance created.

At the end of the survey the hydrogeologist will provide pumping cycles for the private owner with a monthly and yearly limit of the quantity of water withdrawn.

Those pumping cycles will be distributed to any of the owners having a private borehole in their land and one copy to the Municipal Water Committee in charge of enforcing the pumping cycles.

The Consultant will also present those results at the time of a public meeting for all the citizens of the targeted villages.

1. Drilling method and design

• Depending on the hydrogeological findings, the Consultant shall propose the adequat borehole drilling method.
• Provision of BoQs and technical specifications for the drilling of the borehole

 

1. Conclusions and recommendations:

• Identification of the different possible locations
• Expected locations for the proposed new wells with minimum and maximum yield
• After the proposed locations of the wells the Consultant will hold a geophysical survey of the location using VES or ERI.
• Geophysical survey: At the proposed locations of the well the contractor shall hold a geophysical survey of the location using Vertical Electrical Sounding 1D or 2D.

 

2.4 Borehole follow -up

The method of drilling shall be determined by the Consultant, and multiple methods should be proposed with proper justification and with cost estimation and a feasibility study. The Consultant shall provide SI with an estimation of the yield of the borehole upon completion of the study and the pump to be installed shall be specified based on this estimation. Upon the completion of the borehole drilling and the pumping test, the Consultant shall provide SI with the actual yield, and will design and specify the pump to be installed based on the actual yield, which will be specified in the pumping station part.

The borehole will be drilled at the depth estimated by the Consultant. The borehole shall reach the volcano sedimentary aquifer located under the aquifer present in fractured basaltic layers.

The Consultant will ensure that the drilling company is properly installing the drilling rig, and will support sizing the mud pits.

The Consultant will undertake regular alignment tests in order to ensure the verticality of the drilling and will ensure that the drilling company is regularly undertaking it.

The Consultant in charge of the follow up will have the responsibility to ensure a proper geological description of the different layers encountered and will certify the geological log provided by the drilling company.

The Consultant will ensure that the drilling company has a proper follow up of the depth, rotation, volume of mud and cuttings.

The Consultant will ensure regular visits on sites (once a week as a minimum) and will liaise regularly by phone with the drilling company and SI in case a decision has to be taken.

For any modification in the designs, BoQs or timeframe, the Consultant will have to contact SI representative and to inform him in writing in the 24h. SI will reply within 24h to endorse or refuse the possible modification.

The Consultant will have the responsibility, in accordance with SI technical coordinator and managers, to define the location of the crepine, the depth of the cementation and the most suitable location of the pump.

The Consultant will supervise the development of the tube well and will follow the different pumping tests (step and long duration pumping tests) in order to ensure a proper followup and management of the tests.

The Consultant will have to provide a report that will be shared with The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and with the North Lebanese Water Establishment (NLWE).  This report will estimate the yield, and the size of the drawdown cone. The Consultant will also undertake samples, which will be tested at the NLWE certified Laboratory. The Consultant will support SI in the location of the pump as well as the sizing of the pump.

 

Borehole testing:

• Supervising of the borehole development and the preparation of well-log, depths, type of layers, casing pipes (slotted and normal)
• Step drawdown pumping test to estimate linear and quadratic head losses in the well while pumping

• Constant rate pumping test for 72 hours to determine the well capacity, pump installation depth, static/dynamic water level, etc.
• Conduction of physical, chemical and biological tests for the water to secure the quality of the water for the end user.

 

1. Deliverables

Upon completion of all the inspection, surveys, studies, and design, the Consultant shall prepare a report which includes all the results of the inspections and the studies that were performed, with an analysis of the results and a study of their impact on the system.

 

The Consultant shall be responsible to provide SI with a detailed report, showing all the factors, criteria’s and technical standards that’s used in the design of this water supply network meanwhile the Consultant should provide SI with a signed certificate showing his responsibility for his proposed design and for any mistake might be faced during the implementation due to the design.

 

A detailed mapping of all the houses in the three villages is required. The mapping list consists of:

• Number of buildings
• Number of floors
• Number of individuals in each building
• Total number of individuals in each village
• Number of schools
• Number of mosques/churches
• Total number of households in each village
• Volume of water tank for each building
• Number of small farms
• Number of shops, fuel stations
• The Cadastral limits for each locality

 

Additionally, the Consultant shall analyse the need for a topographical survey for all main roads and lanes in the villages, and seek a confirmation for the need from SI, based on which the Consultant may need to perform said survey. The results of survey consist of:

• AutoCAD plan drawing shows all the elevations, nature and type for each surveyed road and lanes, the place and type for all existing utilities, the place for all buildings, houses, schools, mosques and water tanks 
• AutoCAD longitudinal profile drawing for all the surveyed roads and lanes which shows the elevations for each surveyed point and the distance and cumulative distance among all the surveyed points
• AutoCAD drawing shows all the contours lines for the surveyed area in the three localities.

 

 

The Consultant shall also provide a detailed work plan and a working simulation which includes the borehole, the distribution network, the pumping station and the storage. The Consultant must specify the methodology used for the design as well as the profile of the key design engineers.

 

This design will include, but will not be limited to the following:

 

3.1 Reservoir

Based on the design of the system, the demand and the output of the borehole, the storage needs for the system will be calculated and compared to the capacity of the existing reservoirs, the possibility to integrate them into the system and their ability to reliably hold this capacity. Based on this, the Consultant shall provide multiple options for storage, which will focus as much as possible on reusing the existing reservoirs or their locations. These options will include the results of the analysis of the existing reservoirs, and the solutions to any problems that they may have. Then the Consultant shall specify the work to be done on the reservoirs, which could be either restoration or demolition and rebuilding.

 

The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a full detailed tender showing:  general technical specifications, particular specifications, drawings, appendices required, the required material, the quality, installation methodology, brand of each item and all the needed documents that will be used by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL to hire a contractor to implement this work. In addition to that, the Consultant shall produce shop drawings for all parts of work. The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a bill of quantities setting out the quantities of procurement, quantities of work and defining how quantities will be measured for payment, in addition to confidential cost estimation for all the works.

 

3.2 Water Network

The Consultant shall provide SI with a report regarding the state of the existing network and the usability of it. In case the network has any problems that may affect the distribution system, the Consultant shall include the appropriate plan of action for repairs in the design of the water distribution system. The Consultant shall design the water distribution network with the existing network as a base and shall be responsible for providing the complete design.

 

The Consultant shall be responsible to provide SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with a set of detailed drawings of the network; the drawings shall consist of the following:

• Detailed AutoCAD plan drawing for the water supply network showing the path of pipes, the direction of the flow, the size of each pipe, the place and type of each valve and manhole.
• Detailed profile drawings showing the ground elevation and the profile for each lines, the depth of excavation for each pipe, the size of pipe, the place and type of valves, the velocity in each pipe, pipe details, the pressure at each junction, the hydraulic pressure at each junction and the place and type of each fitting.
• Detailed AutoCAD plan drawings showing all the technical specifications for all required valves, fittings and manholes. 

 

The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a full detailed tender showing:  general technical specifications, particular specifications, drawings, appendices required, the required material, the quality, installation methodology, brand of each item and all the needed documents that will be used by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL to hire a contractor to implement this project. In addition to that, the Consultant shall produce shop drawings for all parts of work.

 

The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a bill of quantities setting out the quantities of procurement, quantities of work and defining how quantities will be measured for payment meanwhile the Consultant shall provide SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with confidential cost estimation for all the construction works.

 

In case the bidding Consultant identifies a need for any additional tasks in order to finalize the full design for this project, he should detail technically the additional tasks he is willing to undertake and price it as detailed as possible in his quotation. 

 

3.3 Borehole Drilling and Pumping Station

The Consultant shall provide SI with a detailed design of the borehole, including the borehole location, depth, diameter and methodology for drilling. The Consultant shall also provide SI with an estimated flow rate and an estimated pump size.

 

The Consultant shall provide a design for the pump room, the size for the submersible pump to be installed in the borehole along with the elevations, pumping heads, pump level, reported quantum of water pumped, location and sizing of the water pumping station with all required mechanical and electrical protections. Moreover, the pumping tests shall be conducted in summer and winter in order to secure the optimal yield in wet and dry season, thus at the start of the design phase, the Consultant shall provide SI with estimations for these items, pending a detailed design after the optimal yield is determined.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the size of pipe to be installed to connect the submersible pump to the transmission line connected to the Water reservoir.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the size, specifications and location of the required valves (check valves, air release valves, anti-hammer valves…), fittings to be mounted and room to be installed. The electrical control panel (PLC) with all required protections.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the size, specifications and location of the electrical generator, the fuel tank, the step-up voltage systems, solar panels and their electrical system and the connection of the pump to the power grid.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the size and specification of the treatment unit based on the raw water analysis (Chlorination, iron treatment, etc.).

The Consultant shall provide a design for the size, specifications and number of the fire extinguishers, and other safety items.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the inspection of the existing transmission line supplying water to the reservoir to ensure its proper use as adduction line from the tube well to the reservoir.

The Consultant shall provide a design for the landscape design including the fence, security, guard house, roads, walkways, external lighting, etc.

The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a full detailed tender showing:  general technical specifications, particular specifications, drawings, appendices required, the required material, the quality, installation methodology, brand of each item and all the needed documents that will be used by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL to hire a contractor to implement this project. In addition to that, the Consultant shall produce shop drawings for all parts of work. The Consultant shall be responsible to generate a bill of quantities setting out the quantities of procurement, quantities of work and defining how quantities will be measured for payment meanwhile the Consultant shall provide SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL with confidential cost estimation for all the construction work.