FITT Bluforce and FITT Bluforce RJ took part of an important project concerning the construction of an irrigation network in the Sinis Sud district, a peninsula with a high risk of salinisation, located in the central-western part of Sardinia.

The affected area, comprising the municipalities of San Vero Milis, Riola Sardo and Cabras, in the province of Oristano, has so far relied exclusively on phreatic and artesian wells. Excessive groundwater extraction, combined with climate change and a decrease in rainfall, has put the area at great risk of salinisation.

Thanks to the implementation of this project, for which 26 million euros have been allocated, it is possible to build a consortium irrigation infrastructure, covering an area of approximately 2700 hectares of land, thus enabling the supply of water to local farms, with the Eleonora d’Arborea dam as the supply source.

The first 4-million-euro lot, which has already been financed, makes it possible to build an irrigation infrastructure consisting of a pressure network of main, secondary and distribution pipelines that feeds an area covering approximately 500 territorial hectares. This area, partially falling within the municipal territories of San Vero Milis and Riola Sardo, is subdivided into 49 districts with an average extension of 10 hectares each.

The construction of the secondary and distribution networks has a total extension of approximately 8 km and it involves FITT Bluforce and FITT Bluforce RJ pipes from DN160 to DN500 PN10, together with the installation of the following wide radius restraint joint bends FITT Bluforce RJ:  20 PN16 DN400 45° bends, 6 PN16 DN250 90° bends, 2 PN16 DN160 90° bends.

FITT Bluforce RJ: the advantages of PVC-A (PVC-HI)*

For the realisation of this major irrigation project, FITT Bluforce and FITT Bluforce RJ pipes were proposed as an improved solution compared to the PVC-U pipes initially planned in the project.

The FITT Bluforce and FITT Bluforce RJ pipes are in fact made of PVC-A (PVC-HI)*, a material that, compared to PVC-U, guarantees high flexibility and mechanical resistance, as well as having important anti-corrosive properties. PVC-A (PVC-HI)* is also recognised for its high durability and reduced environmental impact due to the lower use of raw materials and simplified assembly.

A solution that rewards sustainability

The use of FITT Bluforce RJ curves has made it possible to eliminate the anchoring blocks provided for in the project, thus allowing a reduction in environmental impacts during both the execution and operation phases of the work. Together with the product’s EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), this allows it to meet the environmental sustainability award criteria set out in the tender specifications.

In Europe, the FITT Bluforce range is the first product platform to enjoy EPD® certification, the environmental product certification which, based on LCA analysis, provides objective and reliable information on the environmental performance of products and services.

Choosing PVC-A (PVC-HI)* technology to protect the land

The Sinis Sud district covers a fertile area with a high value not only for business, but also for the environment and archaeology, including the excavation of Mont’e Prama and areas with important birdlife.

And it is precisely to protect these archaeological and environmental peculiarities that, in addition to a careful selection phase for the materials used, the works were supervised by the technicians of the Oristanese Land Reclamation Consortium with the support of archaeologists, geologists and agronomists.

The use of FITT Bluforce and FITT Bluforce RJ for the Sinis Sud irrigation project therefore contributes to preventing the serious consequences of salinisation from damaging not only business and agriculture, but also and above all the health of the environment.

(*) On a regulatory level, it is defined as a polymeric alloy of Poly Vinyl Chloride with high impact strength PVC-HI (such as PVC-M, PVC-A, PVC-CPE). PVC-HI (PVC-M, PVC-A, PVC-CPE) is a thermoplastic material that contains PVC resin with the addition of an impact modifier (PVC-High Impact). Depending on the type of impact modifier, the acronym HI can be replaced with various designations (PVC-A, Acrylic or PVC-A Alloy (polymer alloy); PVC-CPE, Chlorinated Polyethylene; PVC-M, Modified).