Gruelling task: PBAPP workers replacing one of the two blue-coloured 1.2m control valves at the water treatment plant in Sungai Dua. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: Water supply to some affected areas in Penang could resume sooner than expected, with taps running from as early as 6am today.
This is despite a minor hiccup at Sungai Prai, where a clamp on an underwater pipe became dislodged after a fall in water pressure.
Resumption of supply had been expected later today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the replacement of two units of 1.2m control valves at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant and 19 of the 22 other preventive maintenance projects had been completed.
“It was estimated to take 24 hours, from 6am on Wednesday (yesterday) to 6am on Thursday (today), but they completed the repair work at 3pm on Wednesday,” he said.
Chow said the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is now focusing on the dislodged clamp on a leaking section of the pipe in the Sungai Prai riverbed.
The clamp was installed in December.
He said PBAPP had deployed a team of 16 commercial divers to install a secure clamp over a larger section of the leaking pipeline.
“Work to replace the clamp should be completed by 6am today,” he said.
PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said displacement of the clamp was anticipated, as the strengthening of the underwater pipes was only expected to last between five and eight months.
He explained that the clamp on the underwater pipes in Sungai Prai was a temporary strengthening measure until the installation of an elevated “S-Band” pipe could be carried out at the river.
The ‘’S-Band” project installation can only be done after PBAPP receives the necessary approval from Putrajaya.
Those who need urgent assistance can call PBAPP’s 24-hour call centre at 04-255 8255.
Besides the 24-hour call centre, the public can also contact PBAPP through other channels.
They are the MyPBA application, MyPBAPortal, PBAPP Facebook page or customer@pba.com.my.
