GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will implement the new gazetted water tariff adjustment for non-domestic and special categories with effect from Jan 1.
This tariff adjustment, however, will not involve domestic water consumers, except for domestic bulk meters, in the state.
The domestic water tariff rate in Penang is the lowest in Malaysia, PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said.
He said the Environment and Water Ministry gazetted the adjustment of non-domestic water tariffs and special categories in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan on Aug 1 this year.
He said the adjustment was implemented through the Tariff Setting Mechanism developed by the National Water Service Commission (Span), which is a systematic, fair and transparent tariff setting mechanism to ensure the national water service industry achieves long-term sustainability.
"Besides non-domestic tariffs, tariff adjustment also involves special categories such as houses of worship/welfare, government premises, institutions of higher learning and shipping.
"Therefore, consumers in these categories are expected to experience changes in their monthly water bills depending on their monthly water consumption," he said today.
Pathmanathan said as the sole water supply operator for the state, the tariff adjustment was crucial for PBAPP so that the upgrading of the water supply infrastructure could be carried out to meet the consumers' water supply demand on a sustainable basis.
"The additional funds obtained will be reinvested in capital expenditure, especially for the PBAPP Raw Water Contingency Plan 2030 (RWCP 2030) projects," he added.
The following RWCP 2030 projects have been planned for commissioning in the period between 2022 and 2025:
• Phase 2 of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) sedimentation tanks upgrades — September 2022;
• Package 12A of Sungai Dua WTP — December 2023;
• Distribution pipe from Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth — December 2024;
• Distribution pipe from Macallum to Bukit Dumbar — December 2024; and,
• Phase 1 of Mengkuang Dam WTP — December 2025
Pathmanathan advised all consumers to use this precious resource wisely.
"Consumers are advised to install water-saving devices on their premises to reduce water consumption and ensure sustainability."