By Engineer John Cee Onwualu (FNSE)

In my last post, I took a deep dive into the details of the findings and observations for Storm Water Management and Control Measures for Asaba, Warri, Effurun, and the environs.

It is clear that the topography of Asaba and its environs and that of Warri, Effurun, and its environs have similarities in their flood management and control approaches.

There were recommendations for optimal and efficient Pre-cast Open and Closed (underground sewers) concrete systems put forward for consideration and implementation for these project areas.

This article enumerates the merits to be derived from the use of these recommended pre-cast concrete structural elements of rectangular, square, and circular channels.

1) The use of precast primary receivers for the construction of the downstream channels to receive storm water discharges from the streets’ right-of-way will reduce the construction time required for evacuation of the current flooding menace that is being encountered in the environment, since non-functioning drains will now have discharge points.

2) There are savings in project delivery in terms of time, handling, and cost optimization during fabrication and execution of the project, since all these various types of channels with different operations will run simultaneously.

3) There is reduced construction risk to workers and passers-by during deep execution works since earth-moving equipment will be deployed for the placement of heavy precast concrete elements in deep excavations. This will improve the overall safety rating of the project.

4) There will be reduced exposure time to the excavated sections with the use of precast structural elements over cast-in-place concrete types, as the works are in built-up areas. This will improve the overall safety rating of the project.

5) There is no need for long-exposed excavated trenches, as is the case with cast-in-place concrete, since smaller segments of work excavation are needed to place the precast elements.

6) The use of precast concrete structural elements will reduce in situ construction errors, which would create greater quality control on the project.

7) Finally, with adequate funding, the State government would complete the project within a short time, which would save her citizens the agony of economic and human losses occasioned with the hazardous and devastating flood water.

I hope that the state governments of different nations can take a keen look at the merits of these recommendations, and execute them where necessary.