From Risk to Resilience: Amiblu Supports Sewer Collector Upgrade in Dakar

Country

Senegal

City

Dakar

Timeline

2023-2025

Application

Sewer

Total Length

8000 m

+

In Senegal’s capital city Dakar, a critical infrastructure upgrade is underway to address decades of deterioration in the Hann-Fann sewer collector. Built over 70 years ago using asbestos-cement, a material that typically has a service life of 25 years, the collector had reached a critical stage. Its continued use posed serious risks to both public health and structural safety. Repeated collapses, gas leaks, and an increasing number of pipeline failures made it clear that intervention was no longer optional.

A diagnostic study conducted in 2015 revealed numerous problems, including wall degradation, low slopes leading to sediment build-up, and the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas – a highly corrosive and also explosive substance. Residents along the collector route had long voiced concerns over flooding, structural damage, and foul odors, all stemming from the collector’s advanced state of decay. With over 300 pipeline failures reported annually, the need for a comprehensive solution was urgent.

To address these challenges, the Senegalese government, through the National Sanitation Office of Senegal (ONAS) and under the supervision of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, launched a large-scale renewal project. It involves the complete replacement of the 8-kilometer-long main collector and the rehabilitation of an additional 100 kilometers of secondary and tertiary sanitation networks across eight municipalities. The goal is to restore safe and reliable wastewater management in Dakar, reduce health and environmental risks, and improve the quality of life for residents in the affected areas.

Amiblu was selected as the pipe solutions partner for the main collector due to its strong performance in previous ONAS projects, where Amiblu products proved reliable, durable, and easy to install. For this renewal, Amiblu is supplying approximately 8 kilometers of Flowtite GRP pipes in diameters ranging from DN 800 to DN 1400. Manufactured using continuous filament winding technology, these pipes are perfectly suited to corrosive environments like those found in sewer systems and offer a long service life with low maintenance requirements.

One of the project’s most significant challenges emerged in a section of Dakar where buildings were constructed directly above the old collector. Rerouting the new pipeline without disturbing these structures required a redesign of the original layout and close coordination among all parties involved. The flexibility and adaptability of Amiblu’s pipe systems were key to overcoming this obstacle without delaying the project.

While construction is still ongoing, with completion expected in 2025, the long-term impact of the Hann-Fann collector renewal is already becoming evident. The project not only addresses critical infrastructure risks but also represents a major step toward modernizing Dakar’s sanitation network. As noted by Mr. Kader Konaté, Director of the Hann-Fann Collector Renewal Project, the deteriorated state of the original collector posed the threat of “catastrophic consequences”. With the integration of reliable GRP pipe technology and the acquisition of new equipment by ONAS, the project is laying the groundwork for a safer, more resilient future.

The upgraded collector and supporting networks provide a much-needed boost to public health infrastructure, significantly reducing maintenance costs, and ensuring the safe evacuation of wastewater for the people of Dakar.