THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is taking immediate measures to resolve water disruptions and low pressure affecting parts of the South Seberang Perai District.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said while water distribution in the area had declined during this period, efforts were underway to optimise flow to the affected zones.
“Some areas are experiencing low pressure, while others are completely without water,” he told reporters during a press conference on PBAPP’s mitigation efforts.
He said the state’s water agency had identified the critical locations and causes, and was now focusing on system management and optimisation to channel more water into the affected zones.
“This issue tends to surface around July and August each year, especially during peak hours from 6pm to 11pm.
“We’re working to shorten the duration of disruptions while expediting infrastructure projects to meet rising demand, including the projects that will take up to 18 months to complete,” he said.
Among the key projects is a 114 million-litre-per-day (MLD) water treatment plant currently under construction. Pathmanathan noted that this and other initiatives are gradually improving supply coverage.
He also highlighted the challenge posed by ageing infrastructure, including pipes in George Town that are over 100 years old and still in operation.
“We don’t want to merely shift the problem from one area to another. What’s needed is a comprehensive upgrade of our filtration and delivery systems,” he added.
Currently, between 3,000 and 4,000 consumer accounts in the South Seberang Perai District are affected. Some parts of Central Seberang Perai District are also experiencing interruptions lasting about an hour.
To further boost capacity, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said two major water infrastructure projects are underway, namely a 50 MLD facility and a 114 MLD treatment plant.
“These projects will increase the supply of treated water to the affected areas,” he said.
Chow added that contingency measures are in place to maximise current production and mitigate low pressure, particularly during the high-demand months of July and August.
“All our water treatment plants are already running at full capacity,” he said, noting that the existing pipeline network is also approaching its operational limits.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Alissala Thian