GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is operating on high alert following the high raw water turbidity level at the Lahar Tiang Intake this morning, likely caused by the floods in Baling, Kedah, yesterday.
The raw water turbidity level at PBAPP's Lahar Tiang Intake (Sungai Muda) reached 261 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) at 11am today.
NTU refers to the concentration of suspended solids in the water. A reading above 3,000 renders the raw water untreatable.
PBAPP said, for now, the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) was still able to treat raw water from Sungai Muda.
"However, PBAPP is now operating on high alert and monitoring the river water NTU level.
"PBAPP is also preparing to initiate water supply emergency response/contingency measures at the Sungai Dua WTP," it said.
PBAPP said it would issue a public service alert on the latest Sungai Muda scenario later.
Earlier this month, the Sungai Dua WTP was shut down due to abnormally high turbidity of raw water from Sungai Muda following the Baling floods.
As a result, 80 per cent, or 528,000 of 660,000 account holders were left without water.
The unscheduled water disruption caused chaos as people emptied store shelves of bottled water. Elected representatives also scrambled to look for water for their angry constituents.
Consumers took to PBAPP's Facebook page to lash out at the state water authority.