GEORGE TOWN: Water supply to about 200,000 people in Seberang Prai Tengah, Seberang Prai Selatan and the southern part of Penang island will be normalised in stages from 3pm today.
Water consumers in the state have been experiencing low water pressure or water supply interruptions since Monday after a major pipe burst at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) – the largest WTP in Penang.
The pipe – an underground 1,100mm clear water pipeline – burst at about 5.30pm yesterday.
In response to the incident, WTP shut down Package 10 and Package 11 of its water treatment modules to accommodate repair works.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive director Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the mishap caused the WTP’s output to drop by 21.5 per cent (about 230 million litres (MLD) per day), thereby affecting water supply services.
“Repair works were initiated soon after the incident and have been going around-the-clock.
“We expect water supply to be normalised to all consumers from 3.00pm today,” he said.
Jaseni explained that the damaged pipeline was buried about three metres below the surface of a road, adjacent to a building – making repair works difficult.
“Careful excavation works had to be carried out to reach and isolate the damaged pipeline without causing further damage to the pipeline and the building,” Jaseni added.
“PBAPP apologises for any inconvenience caused.
“However, please note that this is an unscheduled water supply interruption,” he said.
The National Water Services Commission's (SPAN) key performance indicator (KPI) for unscheduled water supply interruptions involving pipes with a diameter above 600mm is 48 hours.
In this case, PBAPP personnel are working to normalise water supply within 24 hours.