THE Penang government disclosed that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is actively pursuing the establishment of three new water treatment plants (WTPs) to increase water supply services in the state.
State Infrastructure, Transport, and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari made this announcement in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PN – Sungai Dua)Fauzi said there was a pressing need for Penang to have more WTPs to ensure a smooth and efficient water supply to its consumers, both for domestic and industrial purposes.
He supported his argument by citing the Sungai Dua WTP, which not too long ago, underwent valve replacement works, which resulted in water disruptions from Jan 10 to 14 this year.
Sungai Dua WTP is the most important WTP in Penang as it supplies 80% of the total volume of treated water to Penang.
Addressing this, Zairil (PH – Tanjong Bunga) said PBAPP is currently in discussions regarding the setting up of three new WTPs. One of them is proposed to be located in the vicinity of the Mengkuang Dam area, where water will be abstracted from the dam, treated and channelled to the consumers.
“The second and third proposed ones are slated for Sungai Muda and Sungai Kerian.
“These planned treatment plants, currently in the developmental stages, are expected to increase the state’s water supply capacity by up to 330 million litres per day (MLD).
“When these treatment plants are up and running, we will very likely be able to evade any possible risk of experiencing another water crisis like the Sungai Dua WTP incident,” Zairil said in his winding-up speech at the State Assembly Building in Light Street today.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting