Potable water project reconnects Caribbean island infrastructure to Yucatan Peninsula after 2005 hurricane.
By Steven B. Gross, P.E
In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma wreaked havoc upon the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, leaving $7.5 billion of damage in its path.
Heavy infrastructure casualties included a water transfer pipeline that ran underwater along the bottom of Laguna Conil, a lagoon off the north coast of Quintana Roo and connected Isla Holbox, an island in the lagoon, to the city of Chiquilá. The storm dislodged sections of the submerged high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline, which floated to the surface and was beat about in the Gulf. This also cut off the vital potable water supply to the 26-mile-long island.
To fix this problem, Quintana Roo’s Comisión de Aqua Potable (CAPA) – or Commission of Potable Water – called on engineer Francisco Vicke Andrews, who six years before designed and installed a similar potable water transfer line for CAPA. The previous transfer line, constructed from CertainTeed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, remained unmoved by the storm.
“After Hurricane Wilma, we examined the HDPE pipeline from Chiquilá to Isla Holbox and noticed a lot of problems,” he says. “Boats had hit the pipe and rocks had cut it, causing much damage. HDPE pipe floats easily, and if air gets into the line, it will float to the surface immediately. I told CAPA authorities that we would have to go with a higher technology pipe, and recommended CertainTeed® Certa-Lok™ Yelomine™ PVC Pipe, which I had used in a similar project. It’s been almost six years since we installed that line, and they haven’t had to perform any maintenance on it.”
Because of this previous success, CAPA approved Vicke Andrews’ specification. Though typically used for mining, irrigation and trenchless water distribution applications, Yelomine provides the strength and impact resistance necessary for turbulent tropic waters. It’s also easy to assemble, as pipe sections are connected through a high-strength restrained joint system, using PVC couplings with integral O-rings that provide a reliable hydraulic seal. The pipe also features strong UV protection, which is perfect for the intense, water-penetrating sunlight of tropical regions. All of these factors combine to produce a reliable pipe ideal for accommodating a rapidly increasing population and tourism rate on Isla Holbox, Vicke Andrews says.