GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has supplied RM1 million worth of complimentary water to constituencies still affected by the unprecedented water disruption, which has now stretched to almost a week here.
It said in a statement that seven localities in the Balik Pulau and Nibong Tebal districts are currently still experiencing from low water pressure to no water supply whatsoever.
Despite the full recovery of the water production capacity at the main intake and treatment plant in Sg Dua, Butterworth, PBAPP had to address leaking or burst pipes, air locks in the internal piping system, and choked metre positions at some localities.
The total length of pipelines (100mm-wide and above) in Penang is 4,696 km.
PBAPP said it was now prioritising deployment of water tankers/static tanks to hospitals and dialysis centres in areas that still await the resumption of water supply, and also manually inspecting water pumping stations that have been shut down.
These 95 stations can only be restarted if there is enough water pressure.
Last Monday, PBAPP was forced to shut down its Sg Dua treatment plant for four hours after muddied water full of debris and particles flowed from upstream in Baling, which had experienced a major flood.
The debris flooded the intake system of the treatment plant at Sg Muda, which provides treated water to southern Kedah and Penang.
It disrupted water supply to some 1.5 million households from between three to five days for some, as high-rise residential units began to suffer the consequences of low pressure when their reserve tanks ran out. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
