A civil engineering company in Singapore that caused 1.8 million litres of water to be lost has been fined S$41,500, PUB said in a statement on June 1, 2021.

The water was lost after a potable water main was damaged.

Tong Shing Contractors was carrying out pipe jacking as part of road-widening and infrastructure works across Admiralty Road West on Dec. 22, 2018.

The head of the pipe-jacking machine struck a water main with a diameter of 700mm at a depth of about 3.7m below the road surface and punctured it.

PUB said: "The leak resulted in the loss of 1.8 million litres of potable water, enough to fill about two-thirds of an Olympic-sized swimming pool."

Three traffic lanes at Admiralty Road West near the junction of Dahan Road were also affected as a result of the incident.

This is the company's first conviction and the fine was meted out on May 18.

No prior approval from PUB

The contractor was also penalised for carrying out pipe jacking works within a water pipe corridor without PUB's prior approval, the national water agency said.

PUB isolated the leak and carried out repair works, "which uncovered a hole of about 300mm on the water main".

"Investigations revealed that Tong Shing did not carry out adequate site verification works to physically ascertain the exact location and alignment of the affected water main before commencement of works," PUB said.

The agency said the company "failed to take all reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of damage".

Under the Public Utilities Act, the penalty for damaging a water main or connecting pipe with a diameter of 300mm or more is a fine of up to S$200,000, up to three years in jail or both.

Contractors who carry out works in the vicinity of water mains without an approved plan may be fined up to S$10,000.