GEORGE TOWN: Operations at all health centres, including health clinics and public hospitals in Penang, will not be affected during the impending water supply disruption from Jan 10 to Jan 14.
State Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said in addition to having a water supply reserves for 48 hours, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) would still send water tankers to all hospitals, health clinics and private hospitals throughout the state.
"All health clinics, public hospitals, private hospitals and dialysis centres (public and private) will operate as usual. However, PBAPP will still send water supplies through 'water tankers'.
"PBAPP has coordinated with all hospitals and clinics involved," he said today.
Gooi said the Penang Hospital (HPP) would not be affected by the water supply disruption that is expected to occur for five days.
"All operations at HPP will not be affected. Only at other public hospitals, there will be rescheduling for operations and surgeries throughout the disruption period.
"Operations at all dental clinics will be suspended because this type of clinics need to use a lot of water in every operation.
"For cases that already have an appointment, we will reschedule them, either earlier or later," he added.
It was reported that some 590,000 water consumers in the state, including non-domestic consumers in all key industrial areas, would experience a water supply interruption from Jan 10 to 14.
This will be one of the major planned disruptions in nearly three decades.
The interruption is unavoidable to cater to two major valve replacement works in Sungai Dua, Butterworth. The two 1,200mm valves which are leaking are within the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and near the WTP fence.
Various ancillary water works projects at 22 other locations throughout the state will also be carried out simultaneously.