FINAL preparations are underway for the scheduled water supply interruption (SWSI) on April 25 with plans to restore supply soonest upon the completion of 23 upgrades by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
The original SWSI is from April 25 (next Friday) until April 28, but Chow is hoping that the PBAPP can restore supply within the window of 24 to 48 hours for some 300,000 consumers affected.
Majority of the consumers are confined to the Balik Pulau districts and most of the three districts on the Prai mainland with some in the George Town district too.
Chow said that PBAPP is the final stage of preparations, and they are motivated to complete the work as soon as possible.
"Work will begin on April 25 at 10pm simultaneously at 23 locations in 23 installations with the bulk of it in Prai," Chow said when attending the Hari Raya Eid Fitri celebrations of Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid.
Elaborating further, Chow who chairs the PBAPP board, said that the technical work should be completed within 18-hours, after which the plan is to release the treated water in stages to the affected households within the next 24-hours.
This is the second SWSI which Penang will face in two years, as the state upgrades its water supply services in line with the need to repair existing infrastructure while also preparing for the changes in weather due to climate change.
Learning from the previous SWSI, PBAPP has also committed to improving its communication channels to mitigate any queries and concerns from consumers here.
The SWSI from April 25 to 28 will affect 341,708 consumers across all five districts, allowing for the connection of a new RM8.7 million Sungai Prai River - Crossing Pipeline and 23 additional waterworks projects.
The RM25 million works will involve 800 PBAPP workers and 200 support personnel, with physical works taking 18 hours and water recovery expected to be completed for 95 per cent of consumers within 60 hours.
Key industrial areas, hospitals, and dialysis centres will receive priority water supply restoration, while PBAPP will provide refills for affected medical facilities, and call centres will be activated to assist consumers.
Factories were also told to store water for the duration of the SWSI so their operations would not be affected.
For a comprehensive breakdown and map of project sites, the public can log onto the PBAPP Facebook page or its official portal at the www.pba.com.my - April 18, 2025.
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