GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has finalised preparations to temporarily shut down the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Penang's largest and most important WTP, from 6am tomorrow.
This shutdown will cause a scheduled water supply interruption (SWSI) that will affect about 590,000 consumers in Seberang Prai and Penang Island.
PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said all equipment, parts and heavy machinery have been put in place at the Sungai Dua WTP and other work locations.
He said the work teams are on stand-by to commence work.
"PBAPP is ready to take on the challenge of completing all the urgent waterworks projects and recovering water supply services as scheduled. Let us get the job done.
"The kind understanding and cooperation of all water consumers in Penang is greatly appreciated," he said today.
Pathmanathan said they would deploy a fleet of 99 water tankers, including 27 jumbo tankers, (maximum capacity of 40,000 litres), to deliver water to affected consumers.
He said the movements of this tanker fleet would correspond to the four recovery stages.
"These tankers will fill and refill 97 units of PBAPP static water tanks, including 19 'gajah flexitanks' (24,000 litres maximum capacity) as well as the hundreds of additional static tanks set up by elected representatives in the various constituencies.
"99 tankers have been filled and ready to supply 1.85 million litres of water per day (MLD).
"All PBAPP static tanks have been placed and filled at strategic locations.
"About 1,300 PBAPP personnel are scheduled on a 24-hour basis to recover water supply services, in four recovery stages from Friday until Sunday," he added.
Pathmanathan said PBAPP's emergency response team has been activated to respond promptly to mishaps, if any, occurs.