PERAK has agreed to the proposed water deal with Penang after some five years of discussions and political interventions between the two neighbours.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow confirmed the deal was secured, disclosing at a press briefing that Perak has now formally green-lit the proposed project.
It entails Perak selling treated water to Penang from Sg Perak, which has excess supply due to the state's rich water catchment areas, of which some of the untapped resources are now flowing out to the sea naturally.
The project is a long-term strategy by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to ensure water security in the state.
Chow reiterated the deal enhances water supply projects worth RM1.185 billion that the Penang government and PBAPP jointly announced last year.
The projects are part of the key components of PBAPP’s Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030).
The key components consist of the new Bukit Panchor dissolved air flotation (DAF) water treatment plant (WTP), Package 12A, Sungai Dua WTP: an additional New Water Treatment Module, new Mengkuang Dam WTP, the new Sungai Kerian WTP (Phase 1), and the Sungai Perai Water Supply Scheme (including pre-treatment of raw water).
As for the three additional new components of the WCP 2030, the first two are the laying of 13 km of 1,800mm water distribution pipelines from the Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth in Seberang Perai and the laying of 3.9km of 1,800mm water distribution pipelines from the MacCallum area to the PBAPP Bukit Dumbar Reservoir and Pumping Station Complex on Penang Island.
Another component is to build an additional new WTP at Sungai Muda to increase water treatment output by 114 million litres per day (MLD).
Other proposed schemes such as a water desalination plant, underground irrigation and rainwater harvesting, have been ruled out as either too expensive or inadequate to meet the high demand here due to the growth of its manufacturing and services industries.
As for the immediate plans following next week's unprecedented four-day scheduled water cuts from January 10 until 14, Chow said that PBAPP aims to make it as fast and smooth as possible for consumers.
“Let us focus our attention and energy to make it a success. We are determined to succeed and not fail, but if other things happen during the water resumption, we will have to act promptly to manage and repair any damages. When the system resumes in a certain locality, some pipes might burst (due to wear and tear)."
“That is why we mustn’t rush things and instead, focus on restoring the water in a rather organised manner using engineering procedures."
If a connecting pipe bursts, Chow hopes that the PBAPP can repair it within two hours.
Meanwhile, some elected representatives have taken to social media to update their constituents on steps taken to meet the acute water shortage.
It is not just whether there is water, currently, some localities have begun to report low pressure with at times just trickles instead of the normal pressure.
Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo has demonstrated how large plastic bags can store water given the acute shortage of pails and water containers, as people rushed forward to purchase such items.
Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid has listed strategic areas in her upscale constituency where water tankers would be deployed throughout the no-water period.
Her counterpart Connie Tan at Seri Delima, has also outlined the route and mapping of the tankers in her predominantly affluent neighbourhood. – The Vibes, January 3, 2024.
