GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has restored water supply to 99% of the 118,000 users affected by the scheduled water supply disruption in Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) and Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) as of 11.45am on Tuesday (Oct 8).
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan noted that only three higher ground and end-of-line (EoL) areas in SPS, namely Persiaran Jawi Golf Resort, Jalan Sungai Duri, and Taman Widuri, were still experiencing supply disruptions due to extremely high water consumption in SPT and SPS since Oct 6.
"The majority of water tanks and reservoirs in the affected areas have run dry. As a result, over the past 48 hours, most consumers in these areas have been using large volumes of water for immediate use and restorage.
"Based on data from the Penang Water Supply Command Centre, PBAPP has been pumping between 160 and 180 million litres of water per day (MLD) from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) for supply to consumers in SPT and SPS since Oct 6,” he stated in a press release.
Pathmanathan mentioned that following the completion of pipeline repairs at Jalan Pengkalan Tambang, Seberang Perai Polytechnic in Permatang Pauh, and Jalan Kubang Semang on Sunday, PBAPP has been producing an optimal volume of 1,047 MLD at the Sungai Dua WTP.
PBAPP is continuing on-the-ground actions to achieve 100% supply recovery today. These actions include pipeline de-airing works at locations affecting the last three areas and neighbourhood-level troubleshooting to identify and resolve any other potential water supply issues.
Pathmanathan added that PBAPP would produce and pump as much water as possible from the Bukit Panchor WTP in SPS to complement the treated water supply in the district.
About 118,000 user accounts in over 40 areas in SPT and SPS experienced scheduled water supply disruptions for 24 hours from 10pm on Oct 4 to 10pm on Oct 5.
However, restoration was delayed due to an unforeseen incident during pipe repair work at Jalan Pengkalan Tambang, SPU.
The scheduled water disruptions were to allow PBAPP to repair a pipe leak affecting water supply services in SPT and SPS, involving the connection and replacement of a new 180m-long pipeline, costing RM2mil, near the Seberang Perai Polytechnic campus in Permatang Pauh. – Bernama