BALIK PULAU: Residents in the Barat Daya district of Penang, especially those in Teluk Kumbar who are affected by the water supply disruption due to pipe damage at the bottom of Sungai Perai in Butterworth for the third time last Tuesday, are forced to find an alternative water supply.
In addition to waiting for water sent by tankers from the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), they also sourced water from village wells, tube wells and from the hills of Kampung Sepakat since yesterday.
Maqbul Mosque chairman Datuk Prof Muhammad Idiris Saleh said the 49-metre deep tube well at the side of the mosque is connected to a 1,500 litre tank which then channelled water supply to the taps of residents in the area.
He said residents were free to get their water supply from the tube well, which is installed with a filter system.
"Since yesterday, many people have converged here to get their water supply. They are free to come to get their water supply because we are aware that many of them did not have time to store up. After all, the (current) pipe leakage was sudden.
"In addition to helping the local populace, the tube well also ensures that the Maqbul Mosque always has an adequate supply of water, especially when there is a disruption," he told Bernama today.
Meanwhile, residents in the Teluk Kumbar area and even from afar like Bayan Lepas also get their supply from the hill water in Kampung Sepakat located about 500 metres from residential homes.
Resident Mohd Ishak Idris, 49, said he and his wife Hartini Abdullah, 45, came to the hilly area today to replenish the water supply for their home because it was easier and faster.
He said he went to the Maqbul Mosque to get the water supply for his house yesterday.
He chose to get water supply from the hills today and was glad that the water was clean, clear and odourless.
"Even at the mosque earlier, many people were queuing up to take water. So I come (to the hilly area) ... it's not that there is no water from the (PBAPP) tankers that come to our housing area, but when fetching water from the hill, you can take more time.
"When lining up to take our ration from the water tankers, you have to think about the people queueing up behind you, too," said the factory worker.
The incident of a pipe leakage at the bottom of Sungai Perai on Tuesday was the third time it happened after two incidents of leaking pipes were reported in December last year and on Jan 12.
Following several incidents of major pipes leaking, the Penang government implemented a temporary pipe installation across Sungai Perai, where installation work is expected to be completed on Feb 2, and function for at least eight months while waiting for the new permanent pipe replacement project at the bottom of Sungai Perai to be ready.– Bernama
