IN less than 24 hours, Penangites will face the longest scheduled water disruption ever in Penang history, spanning four days, starting from 6am on Jan 10 to 6am on Jan 14. This unprecedented event is set to impact nearly 590,000 water consumers.
While the majority of localities will be affected, residents in Air Itam and Batu Ferringhi are among the fortunate few unaffected areas, thanks to the presence of Air Itam and Teluk Bahang dams.
Earlier, the state government, together with Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), Penang Island City Council (MBPP), and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), had curated well-planned mitigation measures to face the water disruption. The initiatives include the deployment of mobile water tanks, the installation of static water tanks at strategic locations, and the utilisation of Flexi water tanks.
State legislators and members of parliaments of respective constituencies have taken proactive measures, installing numerous water tanks to ensure that the public has convenient access to water supplies.
Additionally, local volunteer fire and rescue forces (PBS) were also enlisted to support PBAPP in delivering water supplies to the public.
In connection with this, Buletin Mutiara interviewed several voluntary fire brigades today regarding their preparations for the impending water disruption starting tomorrow.
Sri Tanjung Voluntary Fire Brigade Association chief Chan Kim Keat said 5,000-litre and 1,500-litre mobile water tanks will be on standby to assist residents during the water disruption.
“When called upon by PBAPP, we are ready to provide the necessary water supplies to the public during the disruption.
“The voluntary fire brigade will be heading to Paya Terubong to obtain water supply at the feeding station tomorrow morning, as the water supply needed to fill the tanks has depleted in the Tanjung area” Chan said.
Chan, who is also the Clan jetties MPKK chairman, noted that approximately 3,200 individuals from the clan jetties will be affected by tomorrow’s water disruption.
“It is estimated that the area will face a total water cutoff by late morning. Therefore, I have instructed the brigade to remain vigilant regarding the residents’ situation during the water disruption,” Chan said when speaking to Buletin Mutiara at the Sri Tanjung Voluntary Fire Brigade Association in Weld Quay.
Meanwhile on the mainland, the Berapit Voluntary Fire Brigade Association has already placed a total of 20 static water tanks at various locations in Bukit Mertajam.
Its representative Teoh Ee Kun said these 20 static tanks have already been filled with water today in preparation for the scheduled water disruption starting tomorrow.
“Each static tank has a capacity of 2,000 litres and has been set up at schools that are still in operation during the water cut due to examinations. The schools include SJK(T) Bukit Mertajam, SK Bukit Mertajam, SMK Bukit Mertajam, SMK Jalan Damai, Jit Sin Independent High School and SJK(C) Kim Sen.
“For residential areas, static tanks have been deployed to locations such as Taman Permata, Taman Tenang, Taman Kuari, Kampung Aston, Taman Sentosa, Taman Bukit Indah, Taman Bandaraya, Taman Perpaduan, Taman Bee, Taman Jernih, Taman Alma, Taman Desa Palma, Taman Jasa and Taman Chuan Liew.
“The Village Community Management Council (MPKK) in each area will notify us if these static water tanks need a refill.
“Subsequently, we will obtain water from the feeding point provided by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to replenish all the static tanks,” he told Buletin Mutiara when met at the Berapit Voluntary Fire Brigade Association in Taman Mutiara Indah, Bukit Mertajam today.
Also present was Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Ng Wai Leong.
According to Teoh, the Berapit Voluntary Fire Brigade Association will utilise two of its fire trucks equipped with a 13,000-litre water tank and a 950-litre water tank to provide water to other areas in Bukit Mertajam that are not on the list.
“A total of 15 of our members will be involved in the water distribution operations that will start tomorrow.
“Once the water supply in Bukit Mertajam has returned to normal, our focus will shift to assisting residents on the island, especially those residing at the ‘end of the line’ (EOL) in the water system, such as in Pantai Jerejak and Batu Uban,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal and Norman Sim
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis and Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar