THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), with the assistance of volunteers and various bodies, managed to successfully overcome the scheduled water supply interruption a few days ago.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that despite the challenges, some areas which were affected received their water supply within 24 hours; while others also received their water supply ahead of schedule.
Chow was replying to Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon during the latter’s courtesy call on him at Komtar this afternoon.
Detailing several water supply interruptions in the state which occurred recently, Chow mentioned the underwater pipeline burst in Sungai Perai back on Dec 18 last year.
“The second water interruption was a scheduled maintenance work. It was the replacement of two leaking control valves at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (Sungai Dua WTP) and it progressed smoothly as planned.
“And while the Sungai Dua WTP was shut down for the scheduled maintenance work, PBAPP took the opportunity to conduct 22 other minor repair works across the state during that period.
“An unforeseen challenge also occurred when three new leaks were discovered in the pipe which lies in the riverbed of Sungai Perai, on Jan 12. Despite that, water restoration for the southwest district of Penang island continued.
“Based on the assessment, the existing pipe in the riverbed of Sungai Perai is no longer repairable,” he said.
Chow added that preliminary work to divert and mount two 600mm pipelines adjacent to the Ampang Jajar bridge to replace the damaged Sungai Perai underwater pipeline has started.
“This will be the interim solution and the projected timeline will be 21 days,” he said.
Chow also highlighted the ongoing Penang-Perak water deal.
During the fruitful meeting, Chow and Vanu discussed about investments in Penang, the development progress of the Silicon Island project, and potential collaborations between the state and Singapore.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat