GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has confirmed a leak in the Sungai Prai underwater pipeline this morning, hours after the emergency repair work was completed.
He said the leak, which was detected at 10am, would only affect the Southwest district.
He said, after evaluation, the leak was found to have happened in several new areas and not from the part which was repaired.
"The water supply recovery process at low pressure is still on as previously informed. Water supply disruption only involves the Southwest district.
"Areas which have gotten water supply will not be affected," he said today.
Elaborating, Chow said the evaluation also showed that the existing pipe could no longer be repaired.
He said the next action would be to divert a 900mm-diameter temporary pipe across the Ampang Jajar Bridge on the river surface.
"Water recovery for the Southwest district will proceed. As such, the people in the district are advised to store enough water supply to face any possibilities," he added.
It was reported that a leak had been detected at the Sungai Prai underwater pipeline, hours after the emergency repair work was completed yesterday.
The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) had embarked on water works, especially the replacement of two leaking control valves, which warranted the shutdown of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
The shutdown resulted in a four-day water supply interruption (SWSI) to some 590,000 water consumers throughout the state since Wednesday.
During the works, the emergency response team (ERT) dealt with an issue at Sungai Prai.
When they shut down the water supply on Wednesday morning, the drop in water pressure dislodged the clamp that they had installed on a leaking section of the 1.35m underwater pipe last month.
The emergency repair works at Sungai Prai were completed as scheduled at 6am today.
However, hours later, the leak was detected.