As of 7pm on Saturday (Jan 13), the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has restored water supply to 90.4 percent of the affected consumers, which amounts to 533,000 individuals.
Despite encountering significant new leaks in the main pipeline near Sunga Perai, PBAPP is continuing to pump water from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to the island section. The corporation is working diligently to restore water supply to as many residents as possible without causing additional leaks or more severe problems in Sungai Perai.
A total of 590,000 consumer accounts across Penang faced disruptions in their water supply starting at 6am on Wednesday (Jan 10).
PBAPP has stated that water supply in at least 101 areas in the Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) districts is expected to be restored within 48 hours, while it will take 72 hours to restore water supply in 157 areas in SPT, the Seberang Perai Selatan, Timur Laut, and Barat Daya districts on the island.
The third phase of the restoration, which affects 99.5 percent of the affected consumers in Seberang Perai and the island part of the state, is currently ongoing and is projected to be fully restored by 6am on Sunday (Jan 14).
The fourth phase of water supply restoration, for the remaining 0.5 percent of affected consumers at the end-of-line (EoL) and highland areas in the southern part of the island, is expected to be completed at 6am on Sunday.
It has been reported that works to install new pipes as a temporary diversion across Sungai Perai, due to the recent leaks detected in the riverbed pipe, will commence at midnight.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has stated that the works involve the construction of temporary structures to allow pipes measuring 600 millimeters to replace the damaged pipes at the riverbed on a temporary basis. The works will be carried out by the appointed contractor around the clock, and the project is expected to be completed within 21 days. – Bernama
