Jumbo tankers to be deployed during Penang water cuts

PENANG will be going all out to ease the inconvenience residents may face over the scheduled water cuts from next Wednesday until January 14 

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has asked the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to lease 10 units of jumbo water tanks, which can be deployed to affected localities.

The actual disruption will take place on January 10 (Wednesday) when PBAPP engineers and welders will be working around the clock to repair two main valves which connect the supply of treated water from the Sg Dua water treatment plant to 80% of Penang consumers.

Each jumbo tanker is capable of holding 20,000 to 30,000 litres of water, said Chow.

Chow, who is also the PBAPP chairman, emphasised that they had no choice but to cut supply due to essential repair and upgrading works.

 “These jumbo tanks, which will be placed at various locations in the state, will be filled up from time to time to ensure continued supply of water to areas that are expected to experience longer water cuts. For instance, we will extract water from areas where resumption is fully restored to areas that are still affected,” Chow said after visiting the Juru Fire and Rescue Volunteer Department here.

 The treatment plant will be shut down to replace two leaking 1,200mm control valves.

Several other repair works are also expected to take place at 22 different locations.

Starting on Jan 10 at 6am and lasting until Jan 14 at 6am, the work will see 24-hour repairs followed by a gradual 48 to 72-hour resumption of water services with the majority of the 80% consumers, which amount to some 500,000 households, expected to have water restored within 72-hours.

Chow also stated that the PBAPP is working closely with all the volunteer firefighting units that have agreed to assist the state in addressing the water disruption.

 “PBAPP and the volunteer units will collaborate to prepare eight units of water tanks, which will be deployed to hospitals and dialysis centres in the state. Separately, a total of 35 volunteer units will also be assisting in supplying water to affected areas using water tank lorries," said Chow.

Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung said that his service team stands ready to assist those drastically affected by the water cuts.

Meanwhile, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said that there is no need to overreact over the water cuts after some groups called for schools and institutions of higher learning to be closed during the scheduled disruption of four days.

Sim said that all proactive measures have been put in place including at the Universiti Sains Malaysia campus to help undergraduates cope with the situation. - The Vibes, January 2, 2024.