Penang pursues urgent options to prevent drastic unscheduled water cuts

THE Penang government is expediting action to fortify the state’s water supply as pressure mounts from consumers and the opposition after many households and commercial operations had dry taps due to an underwater pipe in Sg Prai, Butterworth that burst twice.

There is mounting concern about the state of supply in the future for the entire population as demand rises even as the infrastructure, including the network of pipes, suffers wear and tear with age.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is looking at various options to ensure the supply will not be drastically interrupted again.

The state is also pushing for raw water transfer from Perak which will enable it to treat the water it receives from the southern neighbour.

He also said that the state will consider request for rebates for some consumers who were affected by the disruption.

On the scheduled water cut for major repairs next month, Chow said a meeting with the PBAPP will take place to mitigate the impact on the public.

“We hope the impact will be minimised next month, and we look forward to addressing any shortcomings that may occur,” he told reporters yesterday.

The state is planning an unprecedented mass water cut scheduled from January 10 to 14 when 80% of households in Penang will be without water for up to 96 hours.

The disruption is to facilitate necessary upgrading and repairs to the state’s old piping system, with works scheduled to only be for 24 hours.

PBAPP has said that major economic and commercial enclaves should have their water supply restored within 72 hours.

Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan public complaints bureau chief Andrew Ooi urged PBAPP to give a 50% discount to consumers in the Southwest district and areas in Seberang Perai where there were severe disruptions.

He said that users in parts of the state faced water supply interruption for more than three days, causing a critical situation as many residents were affected.

He added that PBAPP should compensate users to make up for the losses they faced.

"The water disruption caused vendors, especially those running food stalls, to be unable to continue operations,” he said yesterday.

"Therefore, we recommend that PBAPP gives a 50% discount or charge a minimum of RM20 in the December bills for consumers affected by this supply disruption," he added.

PBAPP was earlier today still working to restore water supply to around 1,000 consumer accounts on the island’s Southwest district that were affected by water disruptions since Tuesday due to the burst underwater pipe.

Its chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said that supply restoration had reached 99% – or 199,000 out of 200,000 affected accounts – as of 5am.

Efforts were still underway to restore supply to Balik Pulau Hospital, Emerald Park, Tingkat Relau, Sunway Cassia, Setia Sky Vista, Flat Lily and Vista Condominium.

He said that water tankers were sent water to all affected areas.

He added that restoration work began around 2pm last Friday after high water usage was detected in the Southwest district.

This was due to two probable reasons, the first being hundreds of empty water tanks in affected premises were being refilled, and second, preparations for Christmas celebrations.

The Sungai Dua water treatment plant and three main PBAPP pumping stations (at Bukit Dumbar, Bukit Gedung and Teluk Kumbar) were pumping treated water to areas in the district at optimal levels. – The Vibes, December 25, 2023