New RM5mil pipeline proposed above Prai River, say Penang CM

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Water Supply Corporation proposes to build a new RM5mil pipeline above the Prai River.

The "easier-to-maintain", 200m pipeline, set to begin construction in 2024, would be a better solution to the water supply woes in Penang.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the proposal would be a rational long-term solution according to the Penang Water Supply Corporation.

"The project will take about eight months to complete," he said in a statement on Friday (Dec 22).

Chow said the matter will be tabled to the PBA Holdings Bhd Board for approval soon because it involves a major pipeline that delivers water daily from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to more than 100,000 water consumers on Penang Island.

On the incident at the Prai River underwater pipeline, Chow said the Penang Water Supply Corporation’s initial plan to weld a plate to cover the hole in the pipeline failed, likely because the welds could not withstand the water pressure.

He said, thankfully, Plan B, the steel plate clamp solution, is working for now.

"It has restored water supply services to about 70% of 120,000 affected water consumers at 2.00pm on Friday (Dec 22)," he said.

He said water supply recovery for the remaining 30% of water consumers, including those in the end-of-line and higher ground areas, will be gradually restored in stages.

He said 14 water tankers from the city council, Penang Water Supply Corporation and the voluntary fire brigade have been delivering water to affected consumers since Dec 20.

He said an additional 15 additional out-station water tankers from Air Kelantan, Air Selangor, Lembaga Air Perak, Pengurusan Air Pahang, Syarikat Air Johor, Syarikat Air Melaka, and Syarikat Air Terengganu are being deployed to fetch water to affected consumers since 10:30am.

The Penang Water Supply Corporation is also monitoring the performance of the repaired section of the pipeline.

He stressed that the emergency pipe clamp is a temporary solution.

On Monday (Dec 18), several parts of the Penang island and mainland have been grappling with water outages since a section of the pipe laid across the bottom of the Prai river burst.