THE plan is to succeed and not fail in the state government’s efforts to address the scheduled water disruption in the state from Jan 10 to 14, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
When queried by a reporter about potential complications like the possibility of burst pipes during water resumption, Chow urged focused attention on the challenging task at hand.
“Let us focus our attention and energy to make it a success.
“We are determined to succeed and not fail, but if other things happen during the water resumption, we will have to act promptly to manage and repair any damages.
“When the system resumes in a certain locality, some pipes might burst.
“That is why we mustn’t rush things and instead, focus on restoring the water in a rather organised manner using engineering procedures.
“If we experience any pipe bursts, let’s hope that the restoration or repair works can be completed in not more than two hours,” Chow said during a press conference at the Juru Fire and Rescue Volunteer Department on the mainland today.
When asked about the state’s alternative or other avenues for the supply of treated water instead of depending on the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant, Chow said there were short and long-term plans.
For the long-term plan, he mentioned the Perak – Penang Water Scheme, a longstanding topic of discussion that has finally seen some light after the Perak Government agreed to sell treated water to Penang.
Chow, however, said while waiting for that scheme to move positively, he reiterated the water supply projects worth RM1.185 billion that the Penang government and the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) jointly announced last year.
Briefly, the projects include the five original key components and three new components of PBAPP’s Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030).
The five original key components consist of the new Bukit Panchor dissolved air flotation (DAF) water treatment plant (WTP), Package 12A, Sungai Dua WTP: an Additional New Water Treatment Module, new Mengkuang Dam WTP, the new Sungai Kerian WTP (Phase 1), and the Sungai Perai Water Supply Scheme (including pre-treatment of raw water).
As for the three additional new components of the WCP 2030, the first two are the laying of 13km of 1,800mm water distribution pipelines from the Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth in Seberang Perai and the laying of 3.9km of 1,800mm water distribution pipelines from the Macallum area to the PBAPP Bukit Dumbar Reservoir and Pumping Station Complex on Penang Island.
The third new component is to build an additional new WTP at Sungai Muda to increase water treatment output by 114 million litres per day (MLD).
Also present during the press conference were Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Rachel Teh Chuann Yien.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud