Harvey Water Pipeline Project - Case Study, PE

The Project
Name of the Project: / Harvey Pipe Project
Principal: / Harvey Water
Designer: / Harvey Water
Installer: / Harvey Water
Principal’s Project value $: / $ 70 million
Iplex supply value $: / $18 million
Supplied by: / Iplex
OD of pipeline: / 280 mm to 1200 mm
Length of pipeline: / 198 km of pipes in total, networked across the Harvey / Waroona region. 75.5 kms of pipe ranging from 560 mm to 1200mm and 122.5 kms of pipe ranging from 280 mm to 500 mm
Why was the pipeline being constructed? / To provide irrigators with a (gravity fed) pressurised system to improve their irrigation practises and profitability.
To reduce water loss through the existing open channel system.
17 GL of high quality water to be saved.
The water saved was traded to the Water Corporation to be used in Perth metropolitan area.
Water losses went from 30% from existing open channel system down to 2% with the pipeline.
What needed to be achieved? / The transformation from an open / earth lined channel system to a gravity fed pressurised system over the Harvey/ Waroona district, South West of Perth.
How was the pipeline being constructed? / The pipeline was completed in 3 stages, all pipe buried with supply points at the farm gate.
What were the timelines for completion of the pipeline? / Each stage was installed over the drier summer periods.
Other factors (difficult conditions, timeframes, Environmental issues / areas etc.) / The area is low lying and subject to flooding in winter.
Location of the Pipeline
Start Location: / Waroona / Harvey and surrounding districts
Finish Location / Waroona / Harvey and surrounding districts
What was the terrain? / Flat farming country in general
What were the soil types? / Mostly alluvial, but varied due to the long nature of the pipeline
Timeframes
Construction of pipeline (start / finish): / Stage 1 completed in June 2006, last stage completed June 2008
The products / solution
Pipe material: / HDPE PE 100
OD: / 200 mm to 1200 mm
Pressure class: / Generally PN 6 / 8
Pipe length: / Most pipes delivered in 21 mtr lengths
Special requirements:
Fittings / valves / ancillary products supplied: / no
Did Iplex provide any design input / engineering services / problem solving? / no
Why were our products used over alternative / competitor products? / HDPE pipe was used for the following reasons:

PE pipes relatively cheap for the low pressure application
Pressure in system approximately 40 mtrs
Low friction losses in PE compared to other materials
No corrosion of PE pipes, steel or concrete would have to be protected
Robust nature of poly during the installation process allowed pipes to be easily cut, transported and stored
Fast reliable jointing system, with 14 000 weld completed on all three stages

How did our products provide a solution to meet the design factors and any special requirements for the project? / Low friction losses in PE, as it is a gravity feed pressurised system, reducing friction losses in the pipeline was important.
What benefits did our products provide? / Fast jointing system that allowed multiple pipes to be welded above ground then lifted in to the trench.
Flexible nature of PE allowed for pipe to be laid around curves etc without the need for additional fittings elbows
The result
How successful was the project? / Project has won numerous awards:

The Overall Award for Excellence in the water Industry in WA for 2006
The Engineering Award for Regional Excellence in 2006
The WA Industry Award for Conservation / Efficiency in 2006
Highly Commended in the WA Water Industry Regional / Rural category in 2006

How well did construction proceed? / Most stages completed either ahead of schedule or on schedule
How did our products perform? / No product fault recorded in any pipe supplied
Overall customer satisfaction: / Excellent
Other points of interest / relevance
Other: / This project is understood to be the largest kind in Australia.