Water will be back tomorrow

Residents in Sri Bayu Apartment, Bayan Lepas, collecting water from a water tanker during second day of water cut (Jan 11, 2024) — K.T.GOH/The Star

KEPALA BATAS: More than 80% of the 590,000 affected consumers in Penang will get their water supply tomorrow, says Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan.

He said that under Stage Two of the water supply recovery plan, PBAPP is targeting to normalise water supply for 495,065 consumers.

“Thanks to the PBAPP team, Stage One is ahead of schedule since 11pm on Wednesday,” he said during a press conference at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (SDWTP) yesterday.

He said the Stage One plan is scheduled for completion at 6am today.

Earlier yesterday, Pathmanathan accompanied Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilisation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir during a working visit to the SDWTP.

Akmal came to check the progress of the replacement work at SDWTP and was briefed by Pathmanathan during his 30-minute visit.

Akmal said the replacement work for two 1,200mm control valve units, which had been leaking in the pipeline at SDWTP, had been completed. He said the secondary repair work at 21 other locations had been successfully completed, while work at the Sungai Prai location was 50% completed.

“Even though the repair of the leaking valve units are completed, the restoration of water supply needs to be done gradually,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents at several areas on mainland Penang were relieved to have water supply again.

Residents in Sungai Dua started getting water from as early as 2am yesterday.

Businessman Azmi Awang, 52, from Taman Merbau Jaya, Sungai Dua, said he realised there was water supply at his house when he woke up at 5am yesterday.

“I was happy when I saw the taps running again. It was such a relief,” he said when met at his house.

Senior citizen Mohamed Othman, 76, said he went to bed late on Wednesday thinking that water supply would only be restored the next day.

“But when I realised supply had resumed, I was so happy,” he said, adding that pressure was low in the beginning but had gradually improved.

Salahudin KM Allapitchay, 58, from Taman Merbau Indah, Sungai Dua, said although he is happy water supply has resumed, he continued storing water in the containers.

“I fear water supply may get interrupted again during the scheduled disruption period,” he said, expressing hope that water supply would return to normal in all parts again.

The water cut affecting a total of 590,000 water consumers was scheduled from Jan 10 to 14.

The public who need urgent assistance can call PBAPP’s 24-hour call centre at 04-255 8255.

Besides the 24-hour call centre, the public can also contact PBAPP’s other communication channels at MyPBA application, MyPBAPortal, PBAPP’s Facebook page or email [e-mail].

The public can also contact the State Secretary office at 04-262 1819/262 1207, Northeast (04-228 3781), Southwest (04-866 4695), North Seberang Prai (04-577 6521), Central Seberang Prai (04-538 1963) and South Seberang Prai (04-585 7873).