University of Mauritius

Department of Civil Engineering

Industrial Training
Report
CIVE 3000
04 Feb 2013 to 21 Jun 2013
(a 20 weeks training)

Name : Jeedaran Arshaad

ID: 1012358
Course: BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
Year : 3
Industrial Supe rvisors : 1. H. Kalisaran
2. R. Hassarup
University Supervisor: Mrs. K. Moonshiram- Baguant
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Certification from industrial supervisors

I hereby certify that the information in this report is accurate and does not contain any
confidential data.

..
R. Hassarup
(Project Manager)

Acknowledgement

This report would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of several persons
who I hold in high esteem that in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable
assistance and support during my training.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my two industrial training supervisors, Mr. H.
Kalisaran and Mr. R. Hassarup for their support, coaching, guidance and advice.

I would also like to thank the WMA Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project Lot 2 team and all staffs
from the contractor and consultant for their kind support and advice.

Special thanks to the staffs from the WMA Head office who has also contributed in this training.

Table of Contents
A. Executive summary ......................................................................................................................5
B. Introduction .................................................................................................................................6
Overview of the WMA....................................................................................................................6
Overview of the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project ..........................................................................9
C. Aims and objectives of the industrial training ............................................................................12
D. Scope of works............................................................................................................................13
Technical aspect ...........................................................................................................................13
Tests carried on site ......................................................................................................................24
Commissioning.............................................................................................................................26
Health & Safety issues on site ........................................................................................................27
Environment Impact......................................................................................................................28
Traffic Impact...............................................................................................................................28
Project Management Aspect ..........................................................................................................29
Public Relation Aspect ..................................................................................................................29
E. Assignments carried out during the industrial placement...........................................................30
F. Outcomes and Evaluation ...........................................................................................................38
G. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................40
Appendix A.....................................................................................................................................41
Appendix B .....................................................................................................................................43
Appendix C.....................................................................................................................................45
Appendix D.....................................................................................................................................47
Appendix E.....................................................................................................................................48
Appendix F .....................................................................................................................................49
Appendix G.....................................................................................................................................50
Appendix H.....................................................................................................................................52
Appendix I......................................................................................................................................53

A. Executive summary
The industrial training consisted of a 20 weeks placement at the WMA (Wastewater
Management Authority) which operates as an autonomous organisation under the aegis of the
Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities.
My training involved permanent mobilization to the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project-Stage 1,
Construction of Reticulation Network and House Connections for Lot 2, contract WW81F under
the guidance of the Project Manager who was my industrial supervisor. The site office is located
at Avenue Hirondelles, Quatre-Bornes.
I was given several assignments in view to achieve the aims and objectives set for the industrial
training. These are described in details in this report.

B. Introduction
Overview of the WMA
The WMA operates as an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry of Public Utilities and is

responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater. Its functions are defined in
the WMA Act, 2000 and the following two agreements:
(a) Contrat De Maitrise DOuvrage Dlgue, whereby the Government delegates to WMA the
duties of constructing new wastewater assets;
(b) Contrat De Dlgation, whereby the Government entrusts to the WMA the operation and
maintenance of all Governments assets pertaining to the public sewerage systems. The WMA is
empowered to charge rates to those connected to the sewerage systems in the country. The prevailing
wastewater tariffs cover, inter-alia, operation and maintenance costs, and 25% depreciation of assets.
The WMA is also responsible for the following tasks:
(a) Regulate, monitor and control industrial effluent discharges to the public sewer network;
(b) Monitor and evaluate public and private wastewater treatment plants effluent in
compliance with the Environmental Protection Act discharge standards;
(c) Review and approve wastewater related infrastructure and industrial development
applications ; and
(d) Provide advice and assistance on wastewater related issues and nuisances, drafting of
Standards and Guidelines.

The WMA manages the public sewerage system consisting of 515 km of sewer network, 19
treatment plants and 50 pumping stations, the main treatment plants being at St-Martin, GrandBaie, Baie-du-Tombeau, and Montagne Jacquot.

WMA Mission
To protect Water & Marine Environment of Mauritius and to ensure sustainability of its
water
To be a reliable and high quality Wastewater Service provider in Mauritius
To achieve a financial sustainability
To forge a reliable partnership with all stakeholders sensitive to the cause of the
environment.

WMA vision
To equip Mauritius with a state of art Sewerage System thereby providing a high standard of
sanitation that would preserve public health and ensure a sustainable clean environment for
maintaining the reputation of Mauritius as a dream destination.

Sections/Division in the Organisation

1. Project Management Unit & House Connection
2. Pollution Control and Laboratory Division
3. Operation and Maintenance Division
4. Public Relations & Customer Care Unit
5. Finance & Stores
6. Human Resources & Administration Section
7. IT Unit
8. Planning and Transport Unit
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My placement for industrial training was at the Project Management Unit & House Connection
(PMU) section under the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project.

Overvie w of the PMU section

This section consists of three sub-sections.
A. Project Management Unit
Implementation of the major wastewater projects identified in the National Sewerage
Programme
Manage the procurement process throughout the feasibility, design, tender, construction
and commissioning stages.
To follow up on projects
To report on the progress of projects to relevant stakeholders.
B. Land survey Unit
Responsible for all procedures for lands and wayleaves acquisitions for all sewerage
projects throughout the island.
C. House Connection
Investigations for Notary Clearances, building clearance, private connections, opening of
accounts for new house connections.

Overview of the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project

The Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project is divided in two stages. At present only Stage 1
contracts is being executed. Stage 1 includes:
WW73F- Construction of New Trunk Sewer
WW80F- Construction of Reticulation Network & House Connections Lot1A
(South west Quatre Bornes and west Rose Hill)
WW99F- Construction of Reticulation Network & House Connections Lot1B (west Rose Hill)
WW81F- Construction of Reticulation Network & House Connections Lot2
(Central and north east Quatre Bornes)
This Stage 1 of the project forms part of the recommendations of the Sewerage Master Plan
(1993). The overall project comprises of the construction of 27km of trunk sewer, 235 km of
reticulation network with 29,000 house connections in unsewered areas.
The outfall for this network, collecting and conveying wastewaters from the Plaines Wilhems
Area drains to the St Martin Treatment Plant located at St. Martin in the Black River District.

Main objectives
The main objectives of the Project are:
-

to provide the inhabitants of the Project area with effective sanitation services

to improve the efficiency of the sewerage network in order to minimize ground water
infiltration and wastewater overflow during times of heavy rainfall

to protect the aquifer from the risk of wastewater contamination

to permit the viability of the St. Martin Wastewater Treatment Plant

to generate revenues to WMA, following the connection of new users to the sewer
system.

Scope of work under Lot2

The works under the Lot2 project area comprise of the civil works for the construction of
approximately 100 km of secondary and tertiary street sewers as well as the sewerage property
connections for about 12,500 house connections in the region of Central, North East and South
west Quatre Bornes.
Approximately 50km of potable water pipes, together with associated house connections, are
expected to be damaged during the sewerage works. Replacement of these potable water pipes
and house connections will be undertaken under this contract.
The whole sewer network was designed to collect wastewater from the houses in the project area
and to flow by gravity to a main sewer pipe and sent to the Saint Martin Treatment Plant. A
layout plan of the Plaine Wilhems Lot2 project area is found on the next page.

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Project details
Client:

Wastewater Management Authority (WMA)

Contractor:

Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG)/

Sotravic Ltee Joint Venture

Supervision:

C.Lotti/LuxConsult Joint Venture

Defects Liability Period:

(364 Calendar days as per contract)

Start Date:

14 January 2008

Original Completion Date:

13 July 2008

Revised Completion Date:

20 December 2013

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C. Aims and objectives of the industrial training

The main aim of the training is to give exposure to the world of work. At the end of the training,
maturity is expected in the following fields:
1. Ability to take initiatives and responsibilities
2. Capability to identify and solve technical problems
3. Capacity to work in groups
4. Capacity to communicate effectively with people at all levels
Other skills are also expected to be developed at the end of the training

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D. Scope of works
Civil works were divided into several phases and the project was at its final phase during the
period of the industrial placement. A brief overview on the different aspects of the project will be
given in this report.

Technical aspect
The technical side of the project can be broadly divided into the following:
1. Street sewer
2. House connection
3. Replacement of water pipes

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Street sewer
Civil works for laying pipes for street sewer are carried out in the following sequence:
1. Clearance from the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRSU)
2. Clearance from the Municipality
3. Public Relation (PR)
4. Trial pit excavation (where necessary)
5. Transferring of Temporary Benchmark (TBM)
6. Setting out
7. Excavation
8. Setting of sight rail
9. Placing of bedding
10. Pipe laying
11. Backfilling
12. Compaction
13. Excavation for Y-branch
14. Double Bitumen Surface Treatment (DBST) (Temporary re- instatement)
15. Asphalting (Final re- instatement) (Full width or trench width)
16. Manhole construction (starts after activity No.7 above but is independent of pipe laying
works)

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1. Clearance from the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRSU)
Before any civil work is carried out on a particular stretch of road, the contractor must request
the approval of the TMRSU. The latter then devise a traffic diversion plan of that particular road
before giving approval to start works. A model traffic diversion plan has been enclosed in the
appendix. [Appendix A]
2. Clearance from the Municipality of Quatres-Bornes
Approval must also be given by the Municipality for works to start. The contractor must submit
information about duration of works and give details about the stretch to be excavated. Site
meetings are carried out by the WMA, together with representatives of the Municipality of
Quatres-Bornes, consultant and contractor for strategic roads and avenues of special importance.
In those meetings, health and safety, infrastructure, vehicular access and traffic diversion are
discussed and a consensus is reached between the different parties. A copy of one of the minutes
of meeting is enclosed in the appendix for one of these site meetings. [Appendix B]
3. Public Relation (PR)
This is an important step before works are started. Public Relation Officers inform the
inhabitants the starting date for civil works and the stretch of road to be closed. This is done by
distribution of flyers on which all necessary details are given like whether pedestrian and
vehicular access will be provided, including contacts (telephone number) of the site agent and
WMA site office for any queries. Where possible, inhabitants are also informed verbally. In
cases of classified roads or major roads, the public is also informed by radio announcement and
written press. A copy to a typical flyer is enclosed in the appendix. [Appendix C]

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4. Trial pit excavation

Excavation for a trial pit is carried out to locate existing services like water pipes and telecom
cables when their exact location is unknown. The positioning of the sewer alignment is
determined in such a way to avoid damaging of those services during excavation.

5. Transferring of Temporary Benchmark (TBM)

A flying level is carried out with an automatic level and staff from a nearby TBM whose invert
level is known. This TBM is transferred to a location near the working front. This is done by the
site agent or surveyor and chainman from the contractors side. Then, a civil works inspector
from the consultants side cross checks invert levels recorded by repeating the flying level
exercise. He then gives approval for works to proceed.

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6. Setting out
Markings on the road surface for setting out are done by paint, usually of yellow colour. These
markings indicate the boundary of the trench to be excavated. Location of manholes, invert
levels for Temporary Benchmarks and chainages are also marked where necessary.

7. Excavation
Excavation is carried out with an excavator. The excavated soil is carted away by lorry to the
contractors compound where the big rocks are removed and the sieved soil is normally used for
backfilling. Trench width normally takes consideration for allowing access for labour and
equipment. It may vary from 600mm to 1m depending on the geology (rocky areas may require
larger width), diameter of pipe used and other factors.

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8. Setting of sight rail

The setting of a sight rail is important to determine the depth of excavation, depth of bedding,
and invert levels of pipe. To control the extent of excavation and bedding, a traveller is used. The
traveller can be either a boning rod or staff.

9. Placing of bedding
A layer of bedding material is placed up to a depth of 150mm before laying of sewer pipes
according to specification. The sewer pipe is placed on this layer of bedding. Its purpose is to
protect the sewer pipe from damage.

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10. Placing of manhole

Heavy duty manholes for street sewer consist of several precast concrete rings whose heights
vary according to the depth of the manhole. Before laying the first ring, a blinding layer of
50mm is laid on the soil surface.

11. Pipe laying

Before laying of sewer pipe, the depth of bedding along the trench is checked using the traveller.
Pipe alignment is verified by visual inspection using the sight rails. After pipe laying, invert
levels at every 1 m are checked according to the construction drawings.

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12. Backfilling
After laying of sewer pipe, backfilling is carried out by filling the trench with soil containing
rocks of not more than 150 mm diameter according to specification. Backfilling is carried out in
layers of depth not exceeding 150 mm.

13. Compaction
Compaction of backfilled soil is carried out with a vibration plate compactor in layers not
exceeding 150mm. This process must not be carried out in rainy condition. Crusher run is used
for the last layer of backfilling.

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14. Excavation for Y-branch

Wastewater pipes for house connection are connected to the main sewer network on the road by
a fitting called Y-branch. Excavation for the part of the wastewater pipes for house connection
which lie on the road is carried out after backfilling of the road trench. It is not carried out
simultaneously with road excavation due to lack of space for the JCB.

15. Double Bitumen Surface Treatment (DBST) (Temporary re- instatement)

A temporary re- instatement of the road is carried out with bitumen before proceeding with final
re-instatement. A tack coat is sprayed on the road surface before spreading the bitume n layer.
The bitumen is laid in two layers.

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16. Asphalting (Final re- instatement)

Asphaltic concrete is laid as final re- instatement. This can be either trench width, i.e. asphalt is
laid only along on the trench that was excavated or it can cover the full width of the road. A tack
coat is sprayed on the road surface before the layer of asphaltic concrete is laid.

House connection
Generally, the criteria to be satisfied for each house connection were:
a)

Avoid excavating through tiles, concrete or bricks where possible so as to minimise the

cost for repairing damaged surfaces. The lines must pass preferably through easily excavated
and easily re- instated surface such as soil or aggregates. However, it was dependent to a large
extent on the availability of such options.
b)

Minimise the use of manholes where possible.

c)

Align the sewer pipe in such a way so as to make provision for future constructions in the

yard of the house owner, which may interfere with the laid pipeline. Y-Branches were also
provided on bare lands to cater for future connections due to future constructions.
d)

The slopes of the 110 mm diameter pipes are designed to a gradient in the range of 1 in

40 to 1 in 80 and with respect to the pipe diameter and to provide adequate cover to the pipe. The
slopes were also designed based on the criterion that the pipe must be self cleansing, that is,
sediments must not clog the pipe due a too low velocity.
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Consultant has the duty to verify the following:

i.

Pipes (110 mm dia. or 160 mm dia. depending of type of waste water being carried for
Contract WW81F)

ii.

Gully traps

iii.

Grey water pipes

iv.

Water Closet and bathroom connections

v.

Air vents

vi.

Inspection Chambers

Replacement of water pipes

According to the contract, 50km of water pipes need to be replaced. The old asbestos water pipes
are replaced by HDPE pipes. Excavation dep th for water pipes are normally than that for sewer
pipes.

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Tests carried on site

1. Test for watertightness
The water tight test is done to locate any losses in the casted concrete manholes on the road. For
this, the ends of the pipe are closed by means of airtight plugs. The manhole is saturated with
water and after 24 hours of saturation, the water level in the manhole is noted. After 30 minutes,
the new water level is noted again. If the drop in water level is around 10 mm or less as per
contract specification, then, it can be concluded that the manholes were well casted and that there
are no significant water losses.

2. Air test for sewer

The ends of the pipe to be tested are closed by means of airtight plugs, with one of them
consisting of an entry pipe controlled by a stopcock. The entry pipe is connec ted to an air pump
provided with a U tube manometer capable of reading up to 200 mm head of water.
Air is pumped into the system until a 100 mm head is registered. This pressure is maintained for
15 minutes. The air pressure must not fall by more than 25 mm of water for a period of 5
minutes. If the loss in pressure is more than specified, the pipe must be searched for leakage and
the test repeated again.
A typical sheet for recording data for air test is included in the appendix. [Appendix D]
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3. Compaction test
Compaction test using troxler equipment is carried out. The troxler equipment is placed on the
layer whose degree of compaction need to be tested. This can be either compacted soil or crusher
run. The equipment is activated and after 15 seconds, the values are noted. This delay is because
the troxler emits radioactive radiation. A 95% compaction is required for the test to pass.

4. Benkelman deflection test

The Benkelman deflection test is carried out on classified roads under the responsibility of the
RDA (Road Development Authority). During the industrial training, one deflection test was
carried out at avenue Berthaud by the RDAs technical team in the presence of WMA
representative, and consultants supervisory staff.
The Benkelman beam is a simple device that operates on the lever arm principle. A loaded truck
is used with 80 kN on a single axle with dual tires inflated 550 kPa. Measurement is made by
placing the tip of the beam between the dual tires and measuring the pavement surface rebound
as the truck is moved away. Readings for deflection are taken on the left, right and center of the
road.

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Commissioning
Commissioning takes place after all constructions have been completed. It involves a routine
check to assess whether the sewer network is functioning properly and is ready for operation.
This check is carried out by a WMA civil works inspector in the presence of the site agent from
the contractors side and the consultants civil works inspector.
The following aspects are checked during the commissioning stage:
1. Whether manhole has been constructed according to the construction drawing
2. Quality of benching (the slope and texture must be appropriate so that wastewater is drained
away)
3. Slope of the channel
4. Manhole cover (whether the dimension and the concrete seating around the manhole cover are
appropriate and whether its level is even with the road surface).
5. Presence of any leakage
6. Making good (whether texture and appearance is appropriate).
7. Flow test
The flow test involves the pouring of water in one manhole to check if the water drains away.
Another manhole in the same sewer line is checked for drainage of the water.

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After the commissioning, the necessary remedial measures are taken by the contractor. A table
for recording data during commissioning is included in the appendix. [Appendix E]

Health & Safety issues on site

Health and safety is an important issue in any construction project and guidelines set in the
specification need to be strictly followed by the contractor. The guidelines cater for both workers
and public safety during civil works. The following are outlined in the specification:
Good site management practices
Trenches to be protected to prevent cave-in
Protective clothing to workers
Boards indication construction activity shall be displayed
Dewatering of trenches safe access to properties
Proper site supervision
Adequate barriers at work places
Immediate backfilling of trenches after completion of collector installation/testing
A Health and Safety officer is responsible for ensuring that the above are respected. A typical
report by the contractors health and safety officer is included in the appendix. [Appendix F ]

In the above two pictures, proper netting, signs, and barricading were provided. Workers also
wore protective helmets and reflective jackets.
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Environment Impact
Dust, noise and flooding are main environment nuisances that need to be addressed and
mitigation measures include the following:
-water sprinkling in dry weather,
-covering of stock piles of excavated material,
-maintenance of roads clear of mud and dirt from the site
Another important issue which needs to be addressed is the provision of access to local residents
and to various business premises within the project area. Proper programming of construction
activities and provision of access through installations over trenches is a solution to this problem.

Traffic Impact
The contractor is responsible for maintenance, control, and safeguarding of traffic. These include
orientation, elevation, offset and location of all signs erected.
Civil works have several negative impacts on traffic namely: impact on residents along roads,
and traffic congestion. Some of the mitigation measures for these include:
-Proper planning and co-ordination of traffic diversions,
-limitation of open trenches length
-informing public in advance of diversions

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Project Management Aspect

The WMA, being the client, has the responsibility to ensure that the project is being
implemented within the time and budget defined in the contract. Quality of work is also
monitored by the WMAs technical team.
The WMA monitors the performance of the consultant and the contractor through the consultant.
The consultant submits progress reports at regular intervals to show the amount of work that has
been achieved and whether the target set has been reached.
The WMA ensures communication with the different authorities like the CWA, CEB,
Municipality, and the Ministry for matters related to the project through meetings, letters and by
phone. Complaints from residents are also processed and the necessary actions are taken where
necessary.

Public Relation Aspect

The public relation (PR) team is responsible for establishing the link between all stakeholders
and the WMA. Complaints from residents are taken, processed and referred to the contractor for
remedial actions. PR officers also sensitize the public before any excavation works.
Also, before any road closure, the PR team has to carry out an awareness explaining the nature of
works and its duration.
The PR team is mostly responsible for providing a positive image of the organization which
enhances community building.

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E. Assignments carried out during the industrial placement

During the placement, I assisted the WMA project team for the following assignments:
1. Daily site visits to check progress of work
This involved recording of all progress on site (at which stage works have reached), whether
works are carried out according to quality expected and reporting of any other problems if any.
The data are recorded and reported back to the Project Manager or site Engineer. These data are
required for project management and decision-taking. A sheet for site records is included in the
appendix.

2. Witnessing of repairs on CWA pipes

On several occasions, water pipes were damaged due to excavation works and required
immediate repairs. The procedures for repair were witnessed and progress was reported to the
Engineer.

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3. Assignments on site
During the industrial placement, several assignments were carried out on site together with the
consultants supervisory staffs. These are:
(a) Transferring of Temporary Benchmarks (TBM)
This was done with an automatic level and staff by the flying level method. These TBMs
were used for setting sight rails to control depth of excavation on the site required.
(b) Setting out of sewer alignment
During setting out, the different chainages and the boundary of the trench to be excavated
were marked.
(c) Checking of sight rails and levels of sewer line
(d) Checking of compaction on road base
This is performed with troxler equipment. Compacting test is carried out both on
compacted soil for backfilling and crusher run on road base. A 95% compaction is
expected for the test to pass.
(e) Manhole construction
(f) Checking invert levels and slope of pipe
(g) Checking of Y-branch as per construction drawings

4. Witnessing of tests carried on site

Several tests were witnessed on site. These are:
(a) Compaction test
(b) Water tightness test
(c) Air test for manhole
(d) Benkelman beam deflection test
(e) Flow test
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5. Assisting the WMA civil works inspectors during commissioning

This consists of making checks as mentioned previously on the manhole and sewer network and
recording of the required data.

6. Monitoring Health and Safety on site

Health and Safety is a very important issue which needs to be monitored closely and
continuously. This was done during site visits to check progress of work. If guidelines for Health
and Safety were not respected by the contractors staffs on site, the cases were reported back to
the WMAs Project Manager. He then refers to the consultant to give the necessary instructions
to the contractor.

7. Assisting WMAs audit team with respect to billing

The WMAs audit team carries out checks for houses to assess whether they are already
connected to the sewer network or works are still overdue. These checks are required to start the
billing of the customers connected to the sewer network. The audit team is assisted by the
WMAs technical team. If final connection has not been completed, the Project Manager is
notified. The latter will then instruct the contractor through the consultant to do the needful.

8. Reconnaissance survey of roads and trenches within the project area.

This survey consisted of checking the presence of snags, state of the manhole covers and
concrete seating around it, whether manholes are leveled with the road surface, and the state of
the roads where excavation and final re- instatement have already been completed. A report was
written about the road conditions and where necessary remedial works were required; the
contractor was instructed by the WMA through the consultant to do the needful. (A sample page
of the report is included in appendix I)

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9. Survey to check state of road markings

Road markings are an important issue since their absence is the cause of many road accidents.
The contractor has the responsibility to re- instate the road markings on roads where excavation
works took place. This survey was done to assess the condition of the road markings. A report
was written giving details of road markings that are incomplete or have faded away. This was
sent to the contractor through the consultant to do the remedial works where necessary.

10.

Survey to quantify number of house connections where final connection is long

overdue.
There are many houses where final connection was not completed by the contractor and several
complaints were registered by the WMA from the house owners. This survey was carr ied out to
check which of these houses final connection is not completed. A report was written which was
sent to the contractor through the consultant to complete the work.

11. Survey to assess socio-economic issues before excavation works

A survey is normally carried out by the WMA to assess socio-economic issues before excavation
works start in city centers. I was assigned to assist the WMA Public Relation team to carry out
the survey for phase 16 of St-Jean road. During this survey, a site visit is carried to locate
presence of Hospitals, Schools, shops and other buildings where services are offered to the
public. The data is recorded and an assessment is carried out on the impact of excavation works
on the Health of the people and activities in the site area. This facilitates a proper planning and
sequencing of works in order not to affect the socio-economic activities in the area.

33

12. Site visit to attend complaints

Site visits were carried out with the WMAs technical and Public Relation team in the presence
of representatives from the contractor and consultant. The objective was to assess the problem
and find solution. The following cases were attended:
(a) blockage problems
(b) wayleave issues
(c) property damaged due to excavation works and not properly re- instated.

13. Meetings attended

Meetings that were attended during the industrial placement consist of both site meetings and
office meetings. The following meetings were attended:
(a) CWA meeting
This meeting is held once every month to discuss the problems arising and to monitor
progress of works for replacement of CWA water pipes and pipe repairs. The parties present
are the CWA, WMA, representatives from the contractor and the consultant.
(b) Complaints committee
The Complaints committee is held every week to discuss about the complaints that were
registered from residents. The parties involved are the Public Relation Officers from the
WMA and the contractor and a representative from the consultant. An evaluation is made to
assess the complaints that were attended on a case to case basis and those that are still
overdue.
(c) Meeting for Health & Safety issues
A meeting, chaired by the Project Manager of the WMA, was organized at the WMA site
office to discuss matters related to Health & Safety. Guidelines were not respected by the
contractors staffs on site. Parties present were representatives of the WMA, consultant and
34

contractor. I was assigned to take the notes of meeting. The contractor was instructed to take
appropriate remedial actions and to abide by the Health & Safety guidelines.
(d) Site meeting before the opening of the working front on Avenue Girofliers
A site meeting was organized by the WMA before the start of excavation works on Avenue
Girofliers to discuss on the methodology of work, time frame, Health and Safety and Public
Relation issues involved. This is because this working front is situated in near a market place
where sellers need to have vehicular access for loading and unload ing of goods. Parties
presents were representatives from the WMA, municipality, consultant and contractor.

(e) Site meeting for re- instatement of road markings on St-Jean road
A site meeting was organized by the WMA with representatives from the contractor and
consultant and the RDA to re-instate the yellow boxes on St-Jean road. These faded away
due to excavation works and their re- instatement was a top priority as absence of yellow
boxes can be a cause of road accident. The contractor was instructed to do the necessary
remedial works by the WMA through the consultant.
(f) Site meeting for emergency works at Residence St-Jean
A site meeting was organized by the WMA at Residence St-Jean in the presence of
representatives from the contractor and consultant. This was due to overflow of an absorption
pit. Accumulation of water on the ground surface resulted in breeding of mosquitoes and
germs which are dangerous for the health of the inhabitants. The WMA instructed the
contractor through the consultant to start final connection works so that the absorption pit can
be de-commissioned.

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14. Office works

(a) Checking of Interim Payment Certificates

Due to the long duration of the project, payment to the contractor were made after each month to
depending on the progress of works.
The payment certificate is a well-structured detailed document about payments of items that the
contractor claimed for. In the payment certificate, the quantities of items (where defined) are
checked as per works progress records. Previous amounts as well as actual amounts are noted
and the cumulative quantities are also mentioned in the payment certificates. The rates inserted
are cross-checked in the Bill of Quantities; and errors, if any, rectified. The quantities of items
are calculated at the corresponding rates and the total sum noted.
Moreover, if any mistakes in payment (either more or less) to the contractor were made, the
mistakes are rectified in the payment certificate. The contractor is notified of any changes made.
The payment certificates are sent to the audit section of the company to cross-check the
payments after being verified by the WMAs engineer and approved.

(b) Writing of notes of meetings

Notes of meeting were written for the different meetings attended during the placement.

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(c) Exposure and awareness of contract documents

The contract document generally consists of the following:
Contract Agreement
General Conditions of Contract
Special Conditions of Contract
Bill of Quantities
Drawings
Specifications
Pricing Schedules
Insurances and Bonds (Performance and Retention Bonds)

(d) Perusal of claims

One of the claims that I perused during the placement is the Claim 23. The contractor claimed for
an extension of time to complete the works. The fundaments of the Claim are:
1. Additional depths of excavation for street sewers which are much greater than the
depths as outlined in tender documents. The additional works have reduced the
productivity of the contractors Equipment, as it takes a lot longer to excavate and lay
pipes in deeper trenches.
2. Additional street sewers from additional lanes which were not shown on the Tender
drawings but required sewer pipe. These street sewers are of different nature as was
included in the tender as these additional sewers are predominantly found in narrow
lanes in which the activities of street sewer teams are hindered and the teams can only
achieve a reduced output. This increases the cost of construction of the sewers thereby
further slowing down the progress and hence prolonging the completion date.

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F. Outcomes and Evaluation

The 20 weeks placement has successfully achieved the aims and objectives set for the industrial
training. The following outcomes were achieved:
1. Ability to take initiatives and responsibilities
Initiatives and responsibilities were successfully taken through the various assignments given.

2. Capability to identify and solve technical problems

During the whole of the placement, I was exposed to several civil engineering problems on site
where theoretical knowledge acquired at the university was used to find solutions. Some of them
are:
(a) During one of the commissioning exercise, there was a need to find a practical solution. The
slope of the channel of one manhole was too low for wastewater to be carried away. The solution
was to increase the slope.
(b) There was a situation where slope of a sewer pipe was such that the latter could not be
connected to an existing manhole. New invert levels were found through back-calculation based
on a new gradient to solve the problem.

3. Ability to work in groups

Team-working proved to be vital in this project. Proper coordination was established between the
Technical and Public Relation teams together with other parties to fulfill the duties required.
Leadership skills were also acquired from the different assignments.

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4. Capacity to communicate effectively with people at all levels

Communication was established at all levels. These include communication with the WMA,
contractors and consultants staff, and with the public. I had to report information to the Project
Manager and site engineer about the progress of work and site conditions effectively and
accurately. I also took complaints from residents and give advice where necessary.
Medium of communication was in various forms: verbally, by telephone, emails, letters and
reports.

5. Code of ethics
These guiding principles had to be respected :
To fulfill lawful obligations with professionalism, integrity and loyalty.
To fulfill duties honestly, faithfully and efficiently while respecting the rights of the
public and their colleagues.
The training also helped to develop qualities like integrity, selflessness, impartiality, objectivity,
accountability, openness, honesty and justice.

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G. Conclusion
This industrial placement of 20 weeks at the WMA was a very enriching experience in the field
of Civil Engineering, especially Wastewater Engineering. Theoretical knowledge previously
learnt at the university was put into practice to solve Engineering prob lems. These include
Engineering Management and Economics, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental and
Wastewater Engineering and many other theories learnt during the three years at university.
Successful integration in the world of work and all-round development were achieved and I do
believe that this formation will contribute greatly in the field of civil engineering for the coming
academic year and in my professional career.

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Appendix A

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Appendix B

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Appendix C

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Appendix D

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Appendix E

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Appendix F

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Appendix G

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Appendix H

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Appendix I

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