KUALA LUMPUR – More than half a million residents in Penang are expected to have dry taps following a scheduled water supply disruption next month.
In a statement, today, Penang executive councillor for Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Development, Zairil Khir Johari, said the disruption is due to urgent water works at the Sg Dua water treatment plant (WTP) which will take about four days to complete from January 10 (6am) to January 14 (6am).
He said that about 590,000 consumers on the Penang island and mainland Seberang Prai would be affected by the development, as Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) has to shut down the Sg Dua WTP to replace two units of 1,200mm control valves that are leaking.
“This shutdown will affect water supply to about 590,000 water consumers in Penang Island and Seberang Prai, including non-domestic consumers in all key industrial areas within the state.
“The majority of consumers in these areas will experience no water supply,” he said
Zairil said that during the four-day disruption, PBAPP will carry out various ancillary water works projects at 22 other locations throughout the state.
He stressed that the scheduled water supply interruption is necessary to facilitate urgent water works at the WTP that will be coordinated with repair and maintenance works at other locations throughout Penang.
“All these water works must be carried out to ensure continuing good water supply services and minimise the risks of unscheduled supply interruptions or mishaps, as well as to reduce losses or non-revenue water,” he said, while apologising for the inconveniences that would follow the development.
Meanwhile, several areas in Penang are currently experiencing water disruption due to unscheduled water works until Friday, including Lebuh Paya Terubong area (until 5pm), Jalan Badak Mati and Jalan Permatang Ara (until 4pm), and Medan Bayan Lepas (until 3pm).
The water supply in these areas have been stopped to give way to several repair works on damaged pipes. – December 8, 2023