GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is taking proactive steps and making thorough preparations to deal with the scheduled four-day water supply disruptions starting tomorrow.
The university has been making the necessary preparations since the first announcement was issued by the Penang Water Supply Corporation ( PBAPP).
USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said USM had established a Water Crisis Management Committee on Campus and activated an operations room coordinated by USM's Disaster Management Centre (Nerve Centre).
He said among the initiatives included providing 200 buckets and 800 cartons of mineral water to in-campus students, including family residences, disabled students (PKU) and isolation rooms at the main campus and branch campuses involved.
"USM's preparations are not just to ensure water supply remains available for use in the campus, but also various aspects, including taking into account the teaching and learning process (P&P), services and the daily administrative operations.
"We also make periodic announcements so that each and every campus community is aware of the current situation and takes appropriate measures to minimise and conserve water use on campus," he said today.
Abdul Rahman said USM also provided eight additional tanks with a capacity of 500 gallons or 1,892 liters which are placed in critical areas within the main campus and a mobile tank for urgent needs.
He said USM would also conduct P&P online, encourage students to return to their homes and suspend all student association activities physically to minimise the presence of students on campus.
"Employees are also given permission to work from home except front-line workers during the period of the water supply interruption," he added.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman said apart from the main campus in Gelugor, the USM engineering campus in Nibong Tebal, which is also facing the same situation, also received eight additional 500 gallon tanks in addition to 32 barrels with a capacity of 120 litres which will be placed in some toilets in the hostel blocks.
"We have fully prepared, including a contingency plan, to face this crisis which is expected to provide relief and help campus residents as best as possible," he said.
According to him, the efforts in making thorough preparations are made collectively with the involvement of students through the USM Student Representative Council (MPP).
"The USM MPP is very proactive by successfully obtaining various external donations to help fellow students cope with this situation.
"Among other initiatives are using underground water drainage for the convenience and support of the congregation at the Al Malik Khalid Mosque for congregational prayer, in preparation for this Friday's prayer," he said.
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.