CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced today that the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will be renting 10 units of jumbo tanks, with each capable of holding 20,000 to 30,000 litres of water, to be deployed to areas that are expected to experience water cut from Jan 10 to 14 this year.
Chow, who is also the PBAPP chairman, emphasised that this is part of PBAPP’s efforts due to a temporary water disruption in the state during the essential maintenance at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant.
“The locations at which these 10 units will be placed will be announced later after the PBAPP has finalised the list.
“These tanks, which will be placed at various locations in the state, will be filled up from time to time to ensure continued supply of water to areas that are expected to experience longer water cuts.
“For instance, we will extract water from areas where resumption is fully restored to areas that are still affected,” Chow said during a media conference at the Juru Fire and Rescue Volunteer Department on the mainland today.
The Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant will be shut down to replace two leaking 1,200mm control valves.
Several other repair works are also expected to take place at 22 different locations.
Starting on Jan 10 at 6am and lasting until Jan 14 at 6am, the work will see a 24-hour repair followed by a gradual 48 to 72-hour resumption of water services.
Meanwhile, Chow also stated that the PBAPP is working closely with all the volunteer units (Fire and Rescue) that have agreed to assist the state in addressing this impending water disruption.
“PBAPP and the volunteer units will collaborate to prepare eight units of water tanks, which will be deployed to hospitals and dialysis centres in the state.
“Separately, a total of 35 volunteer units will also be assisting in supplying water to affected areas using water tank lorries.
“The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) will also be doing their part in this mission to ensure water consumers don’t experience extreme crisis during this scheduled water disruption.
“PBAPP will also be preparing 15 units of flexible tanks, each with a 1,000-litre capacity, to be placed in public spaces for public access,” Chow added.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing efforts by the Juru Fire and Rescue Volunteer unit to minimise the impact of water cuts on the consumers in the Bukit Tengah state constituency.
They are working closely with Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung and his office to expedite this initiative.
It is learnt that 11 large-sized plastic containers filled with water have been prepared to be deployed to the residents in Bukit Tengah.
Chow, who is also Batu Kawan MP, announced that nine poly tanks (500 gallons each) will be sent to apartments, low-cost and low-medium-cost flats in the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency during the water cut.
Also present during the media conference was MBSP councillor Rachel Teh Chuann Yien.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud