THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has appointed a consultant to look into the proposed installation of a dedicated water supply pipe system from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to Penang island.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the solution was mooted following the unscheduled water interruptions in Penang island recently which were caused by a technical fault in the handling of the valve replacement works at the Sungai Dua WTP.
Chow, who is also the PBAPP non-executive chairman, said the proposed dedicated water supply pipe system would be separated from the Seberang Perai water supply system.
“This is one of our contingency plans to ensure sufficient and continuous water supply for the consumers in Penang.
“Treated water from the water treatment plant is channelled to consumers via a very complex and comprehensive water supply pipe system.
“Despite that, we have managed to supply to all water consumers in the state.
“We know that water is the source of life, and we do our best – from planning, the appointment of consultants, and the implementation of water supply projects – to ensure that Penangites have a clean and sufficient water supply,” he said in his speech during his Jelajah ❤️ Penang 2.0 to Bayan Baru today.
Chow said there are many water supply projects which are in various stages of implementation.
“For example, the third Penang Twin Submarine Pipelines (PTSP) project has been completed and commissioned to deliver more water from Seberang Perai to Penang island.
“We will also be building an additional water treatment plant at Mengkuang Dam; upgrading the Sungai Dua WTP; and improving the water transfer capacity from Mengkuang Dam to the Sungai Dua WTP.
“Over at south Seberang Perai (SPS), which are the end-of-line (EOL) areas, PBAPP will explore the possibility of obtaining water supply from Sungai Kerian while awaiting the implementation of the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS).
“Several areas in SPS are experiencing low water pressure. We hope to create a water supply network from Sungai Kerian to meet the needs of the consumers,” Chow said.
Chow mentioned that there are areas in the southwest district which are also considered EOL areas.
“Therefore, PBAPP is planning to set up a reservoir (storage tank) at Bukit Penara, Balik Pulau, in the southwest district (to address water issues faced by the EOL areas).
“We have a water source (Teluk Bahang Dam) in the southwest district and several areas including parts of Balik Pulau obtain their water from the Teluk Bahang Dam,” Chow said.
On July 13 last year, Buletin Mutiara reported that the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam supply water to several areas such as Pulau Tikus, Kebun Bunga, Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang and some parts of Balik Pulau. The water supply in these areas is not from the Sungai Dua WTP, but from the respective dams. Other areas in Balik Pulau such as Titi Teras, Jalan Baru, Sungai Rusa, and Kuala Sungai Pinang do not depend on water from Sungai Muda and are supplied by the Sungai Pinang WTP and from the Teluk Bahang pumping station.
Whereas areas such as those near the Balik Pulau township, Jalan Bukit Penara, Balik Pulau bus terminal, Pondok Upeh, and Pulau Betong are the EOL areas receiving water from the Sungai Dua WTP.
Chow said PBAPP has never been sitting idly.
“The corporation has been working very hard to ensure sufficient water supply for the people while maintaining a low water tariff.
“We acknowledge that, sometimes, there are unexpected or unscheduled water supply disruptions. We hope that the people… water consumers… can work together with us to ensure that Penang continues to be a sustainable state in terms of water supply,” he said.
Over in Lorong Pekaka, Chow announced the RM1.003 million water supply upgrading project at the site.
The project would address the frequent pipe leakages and low water pressure faced by consumers in Lorong Pekaka as well as Lorong Pekaka 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin thanked Chow for the good news. Earlier, he had urged PBAPP to consider building a reservoir in the southwest district to ensure there is a sufficient water supply for a few days in the district in case of a disruption.
“We are the economic powerhouse of Malaysia and the Silicon Valley of the East. We cannot continue to be the EOL areas. We cannot afford to have water disruption for a few days.
“Can we have a reservoir in the southwest district?” Sim asked.
Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan said the water supply upgrading project in Lorong Pekaka has been brought up several times at the State Legislative Assembly.
“We hope that the issues can be resolved upon the completion of the project,” he said.
Initial works have started, and the upgrading works are scheduled to begin on Feb 1. The project is scheduled to be completed on Aug 30.
Separately, 150 underprivileged people received gift vouchers in view of the Chinese New Year celebration.
Also present was PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siew Chia En
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat