Divers hired by Sanepar inspect the water intake from Lake Itaipu in Foz do Iguaçu. There are 225 meters of underwater piping, which undergo periodic inspection.
The aim is to ensure the integrity of the pipelines, anchored by steel cables that are submerged. Most of the work is concentrated underwater.
Divers recorded images of the entire pipeline route, carried out repairs and replaced worn parts. The floating intake from the lake began operating in 2015.
“The company uses the best technology available to keep its equipment running smoothly,” says Sanepar CEO Wilson Bley. Large structures require specialized services.
Divers in the lake
Inspection is necessary to avoid the risk of accidents in case the pipes become detached. It also helps to eliminate the possibility of reducing the operational capacity of the equipment's intake unit.
Diver Sandro Luiz Cardoso explains the complexity of the service. “The biggest challenge was disconnecting all the piping in an environment with high water pressure and which demands a lot from the divers, since each professional has a specific amount of time to spend underwater.”
The speed of water and winds and occurrences such as droughts and floods affect the useful life of the material, depending on Sanitize. This year, the inspection detected a small crack in a connecting piece between the pipes.
Water capture
The Itaipu Lake water collection unit has three sets of motor pumps and a 96 square meter floating platform. Located 250 meters from the lake shore, part of the metal structure is connected by submerged pipes to the pumps installed on the pier that connects to the treatment unit.
(With information from Sanepar)
