KUALA LUMPUR – Penang authorities have made adequate contingency plans for the upcoming four-day water supply disruption to ensure sufficient supply during the period, according to National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago.
Ahead of the scheduled disruption from January 10 to 14, Santiago reassured the public that the distribution of water tankers in neighbourhoods would not be an issue.
He said the authorities have rented water tankers from various sources, including other states, to supplement the water supply in Penang.
“People have been informed about the scheduled water disruption, and the state government has made preparations, including renting tankers from other states to ensure an adequate water supply in Penang,” Santiago told Scoop.
Santiago said that Penang’s MPs are also contributing by sending water tankers to their constituencies, providing an additional resource for residents facing water shortages.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by Penang residents in storing and rationing water for four days, Santiago assured that this inconvenience would be for the short term.
He emphasised the importance of urgent repair work at the Sg Dua water treatment plant to ensure a continuous water supply for the people.
“The repair work is crucial for updating the efficiency of the plants in the upcoming year. I believe the work can be completed in two days or even less than two days.”
Echoing Santiago, Association of Water and Energy Research (Awer) president S. Piarapakaran agreed that scheduled maintenance is the top priority to ensure continuous water supply.
Piarapakaran said during the scheduled maintenance, the water operator and the technical team will prepare the components that need to be replaced.
The postponement of scheduled maintenance might lead to the possibility of unexpected outbursts which will take more time to be repaired due to components needing to be sourced first.
“Imagine if this scheduled maintenance is postponed due to the request of the public, what will they do if an unscheduled disruption takes place during the Chinese New Year celebration where sourcing for components will be delayed and there will be peak demand for long holidays in the whole of Penang,” he told Scoop.
According to Piarapakaran, residents in hillside areas will face issues in filling up their water reservoirs and storage tanks due to panic consumption, as many people would rush to stock up on water.
He suggested the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) place more static water tanks that can frequently be filled up by mobile water tankers to ensure constant water flow for daily necessities.
“If a design only has one main trunk bringing water to large demand zones and anything happens to its or the supporting components, a large population will be affected,” he said.
“To reduce this risk, we can multiply the particular line or trunk to minimise risk such as this although it is slightly more expensive but it can prevent large-scale disruptions.”
The scheduled water disruption from January 10 to 14 will impact approximately 590,000 consumers, constituting 80% of the state’s population, including non-domestic users in Penang.
The disruption is deemed necessary to replace two valve units at the Sg Dua water treatment plant and perform auxiliary works at 22 locations in Penang.
The state has been grappling with unscheduled water supply disruptions since the last week of the year, prompting frustrated residents to vent their concerns on social media.
Previously, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng criticised PBAPP for allegedly suggesting residents store more water rather than ensuring an adequate number of standby water tankers.
A leaked video of a closed-door meeting showed Lim expressing his concerns to the company’s CEO K. Pathmanathan, urging the exploration of all methods before the four-day water disruption.
Meanwhile, Penang Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) chairman Datuk Seri Lee Teong Li said that the majority of its 550 members would halt operations during the scheduled disruption. – January 8, 2024