THE PENANG Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) should consider constructing mini reservoirs in highly dense localities to prevent disruption of water supply to consumers in the state.
This suggestion was conveyed by Penang Gerakan Public Complaints Bureau head Andrew Ooi who pointed out that conservationists and engineers have promoted the concept of mini-reservoirs and huge storage tanks to reduce dependence on the state’s vast piping network.
It would also help consumers to not be affected by current stopgap measures involving water cuts to repair leaking pipes affected by ageing, wear and tear, said Ooi.
He told The Vibes that the small-scale reservoirs can be established on a fast-track basis.
They can be tapped on in the respective localities when the main water supply is stopped due to emergencies or other unforeseen situations.
He added that the local authorities should make it a must for property developers to install huge storage tanks which can act as reserves in the event of drought or water disruption.
PBAPP manages one of the country's oldest reservoirs at the Botanic Gardens in the Waterfall area.
It also oversees smaller ones in Tanjung Bungah and Bukit Dumbar, as well as major dams in Ayer Itam, Teluk Bahang and Mengkuang.
These are inadequate, said Ooi, claiming that PBAPP was too slow in reacting to the effects of climate change on water supply.
Heavy rains can cause mudflow and landslides which in turn contaminate the water turbidity levels in Sg Muda, the main catchment area for treated water supply to Penang.
He added that the constant water disruptions, even if they are in certain localities such as Teluk Kumbar in Bayan Lepas, is a smudge on PBAPP’s good track record.
"It is largely due to the pipes experiencing wear and tear, giving way to leakage," he said.
If PBAPP works to upgrade the piping system, there would likely be more disruption in the future, said Ooi, adding that Gerakan is not being critical just because it is in the opposition.
Rather, the party is concerned like any other Penangite over the quality of the water delivery system, he added.
Ooi also said that Gerakan will oppose the impending hike of water charges when the PBAPP made huge profits in 2022.
It was reported that PBAPP’s listed arm, PBA Holdings Bhd, announced a profit after tax of RM77.12 million at its annual general meeting in June last year.
The authorities should spend money to correct their own miscalculations in the first place instead of passing the buck to the consumers, said Ooi.
He was responding to a report that the ongoing replacement for a ruptured riverbed pipe in Sungai Perai would require a temporary water cut to some 120,000 users in Balik Pulau soon, coming on the heels of the major scheduled water disruption earlier this month.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was quoted as saying that as of now no specific date for the cut has been decided.
The ruptured pipe supplies treated water from Butterworth to at least half of the island.
Over the past two months it has given way four times despite repairs being carried out.
According to Chow, work is under way to divert the pipe and have it run above the river temporarily. – The Vibes, January 23, 2024
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