Major water supply projects to meet rising demand

The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is undertaking four major water supply engineering projects this year to address Penang’s increasing water demand.

PBAPP’s chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan, stated that the four priority projects are:

• Package 12A at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
• A 13km x 1.8m pipeline from Sungai Dua WTP to Butterworth in Seberang Perai.
• A 3.9km x 1.8m pipeline on Penang island, from the Macallum area to the PBAPP Bukit Dumbar Complex.
• A 1.35m Sungai Perai River-Crossing pipeline.

“The total projected cost of these four projects is RM220 million.

“Package 12A and the 1.8m pipeline laying projects are part of PBAPP’s Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030).

“The Sungai Perai River-Crossing pipeline project is a long-term solution to replace the burst 1.35m underwater pipeline. It will serve as a crucial component of PBAPP’s pipeline network, enabling the transfer of more treated water from Sungai Dua to the southwest district on Penang Island, central Seberang Perai, and south Seberang Perai (SPS) areas,” Pathmanathan said.

He added that PBAPP’s commitment to complete these projects in 2024 demonstrates the corporation’s response to Penang’s growing water demand.

Pathmanathan also highlighted completed projects from 2023 and the first quarter of this year, which include:

• A new dissolved air flotation (DAF) water treatment module at the Bukit Panchor WTP to increase water supply by 10 MLD in SPS in 2024, the first component of the WCP 2030.
• Two 0.25 MLD ‘Portable WTPs’ at Taman Sungai Duri Indah to alleviate intermittent water issues in this SPS neighborhood.
• Installation of suction tanks at the Taman Widuri and Taman Wellesley pumping stations to alleviate intermittent water issues in these SPS neighborhoods.
• Replacement of two major 1.2m control valves at the Sungai Dua WTP and various ancillary water works projects at 22 other locations throughout Penang to prevent major unscheduled water supply interruptions for 590,000 consumers on Penang Island and in Seberang Perai.
• Pipeline diversion works to connect two 600mm pipelines at Sungai Perai as a mid-term solution to the burst 1.35m underwater pipeline mishap that affected 120,000 consumers on Penang Island.

“The total expenditure for these projects completed in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 amounted to RM33.72 million,” Pathmanathan added.

Source: Buletin Mutiara