GEORGE TOWN: Work to re-clamp the leaked portion of the underwater pipeline in Sungai Prai has achieved 80 per cent completion.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said all pieces of the clamp had been placed in the required positions to cover the 1.15m x 0.65m hole on the pipeline.
"The divers are now racing against the clock to bolt all the clamps in place.
"The projected timeline for bolting and checking all the bolts is between five and 7.5 hours," it said this afternoon.
It was reported earlier today that work to re-clamp the underwater pipeline in Sungai Prai had hit further snag.
Divers were unable to complete the re-clamping work as scheduled due to heavy rain and strong underwater currents.
At 2am today, a new team of 10 divers took over from the original team, to strive to complete the underwater clamping works as soon as possible.
The re-clamping work is the Plan A option to ensure some 120,000 consumers affected by the water supply disruption due to the Sungai Prai mishap will get water supply as soon as possible.
Plan A, which is currently 28 hours behind the original schedule, is a temporary solution to "buy time" until the completion of preparatory works onsite for the commissioning of two new 600mm pipelines to replace the underwater pipeline under Plan B.
If Plan A had been successful as planned, some 84 per cent of the 120,000 affected consumers in the southwest district and part of the northeast district would have had access to water at 8am today.
"Now, they are expected to get the water supply by 11.30pm tomorrow while the remaining 16 per cent by 11.30pm on Sunday," it added.
Meanwhile, PBAPP said the Scheduled Water Supply Interruption (SWSI) for Plan B diversion work was scheduled for 11.30pm on Monday.
"This means that after water supply has been fully restored under Plan A, this will provide the 120,000 affected consumers with 24 to 48 hours to fill up their storage tanks before pipeline shutdown to enable implementation of Plan B diversion works," it said.
Work to lay and mount the first 600mm pipeline under Plan B is almost completed.
The temporary diversion pipes followed new leaks detected in the pipe beneath Sungai Prai when water works were being carried out on Jan 10.
Assessment found that the existing pipe in Sungai Prai could no longer be repaired.