GEORGE TOWN: Some 120,000 consumers in the southwest district and part of the northeast district will face another round of water supply disruption from tomorrow night.
The latest water cut is to enable the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to commission two new 600mm pipelines to replace the leaked Sungai Prai underwater pipeline under Plan B.The leaked pipeline has been temporarily clamped under Plan A.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Plan B was to kick off today but PBAPP postponed it to tomorrow following requests by consumers.
"This is because some areas affected by last week's water supply disruption, particularly Balik Pulau, only obtained water supply this morning. So, they need more time to store water for the commissioning of Plan B.
"PBAPP will only commission Plan B at 11.30pm tomorrow. We expect physical works for Plan B to take 16 hours to complete, which is 2pm on Wednesday, after which water supply will normalise in stages.
"It will take between 24 and 48 hours for the water supply to be normalised. Some areas may take more than 48 hours," he said today.
This is the fourth time they have experienced water supply disruption.Chow hoped the commissioning of Plan B will proceed smoothly.
"This project is very much needed and is a solution for the next few months before a long-term solution is put in place."Once the long-term project is put in place, I hope there will be no more issues in future," he added.
Last week, the Penang government directed the PBAPP to undertake two emergency response action plans simultaneously to ensure those affected by a water supply disruption from the Sungai Prai mishap would get water supply as reliably as possible.
Plan A was to re-clamp a 1.15m x 0.65m hole on the leaking 1,350mm underwater pipeline section.
This was a temporary solution to "buy time" until the completion of preparatory works onsite for the commissioning of two new 600mm pipelines to replace the underwater pipeline under Plan B.
