KUALA LUMPUR – Penangites will have to put up with another scheduled water supply disruption as a leaking 1,350mm underwater pipeline needs replacing at Sg Perai.
The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said this will be “the shortest and least inconvenient” disruption and recommended dates will be presented to the state exco next Wednesday.
It added that the dates will take into account the duration of diversion works and pipeline shutdowns, Chinese New Year celebrations, risks of delaying pipeline works, volume of leakage and projected high consumption of water before and during CNY, as well as contingency plans for potential mishaps.
“The commissioning of the 2 x 600mm pipelines adjacent to the Ampang Jajar bridge is an interim solution that will address the risks of a bigger leak from the leaking Sg Perai underwater pipeline that may affect water supply for 120,000 consumers, mainly the island’s southwest district.
“As of today, PBAPP is incurring a leak of 154 million litres per day from the underwater pipeline. With the commissioning of the 2 x 600mm pipelines that are above the waterline, this underwater pipeline will be decommissioned,” it said in a statement today.
PBAPP is also seeking approval from its board of directors and the state government to start work on a new 1350mm river-crossing pipeline with its own supporting structure immediately as a permanent solution.
The targeted timeline for the river crossing pipeline solution is four to six months if it can be expedited.
Penangites are still reeling from the scheduled water supply disruption earlier this month, where 590,000 accounts or more than 80% of the residents, were affected. – January 20, 2024