Chow at the opening of Package 12A of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant in Tasek Gelugor, one of the recently completed projects under WCP 2030. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
State govt reveals strategy to ensure supply through its contingency plan
OVER the next few years, the Penang government will invest RM1.115bil in its Water Supply Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030) as water consumption in the state continues to increase.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) had so far invested RM69.15mil to implement the WCP 2030 for the benefit of some 1.74 million people in the state.
“We will increase it with another RM1.115bil in investments in the next four years to ensure continuous, clean water supply in Penang.
“PBAPP is planning to complete another six projects under the WCP 2030 to meet the 10% increase in water consumption,” he said at the official opening of Package 12A of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Tasek Gelugor.
Chow said water consumption in Penang continued to rise.
“Water consumption is now 887 million litres per day (MLD) in the first half of this year, which is an increase compared to 843 MLD for the whole of 2019.
“Package 12A is one of the recently completed projects under WCP 2030, which will increase the water treatment capacity at the Sungai Muda WTP by 114 MLD, from 1,612 MLD to 1,726 MLD.
“Although Package 12A is capable of increasing the water treatment capacity, I hope that Penang citizens will be prudent and try to conserve water,” he said.
Package 12A will increase the water treatment capacity of the Sungai Muda plant to 1,726 MLD.
Chow, who is PBAPP chairman, said PBAPP’s strategy was to decentralise the water distribution system.
“Some of the projects in the pipeline include building a new WTP with a 114 MLD capacity to make use of water from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam for Central Seberang Perai.
“Two more WTPs will be built at Sungai Kerian and Sungai Muda to provide 114 MLD each of treated water for Southern Seberang Perai and Northern Seberang Perai respectively.
“There will be dedicated pipes and sub-marine pipes to supply water directly to the island,” he added.
Chow said the three major pipes to be built included a 13km pipe from the Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth, a 3.9km pipe from the Macallum area to Bukit Dumbar reservoir and pump station complex on the island, and a Sungai Perai river crossing pipeline project in Seberang Perai.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the three major pipelines, which would cost about RM189mil, would be implemented next year and in 2026.
“When completed, the pipes will allow us (PBAPP) to pump water at a higher pressure from the Sungai Dua WTP to 465,000 consumers.
“The pipeline projects will help to improve water supply services for 67.4% of Penang’s 689,786 registered water consumers in all five districts,” said Pathmanathan.
