BUTTERWORTH: Water supply has normalised for about 60 per cent or 350,000 of the 590,000 households affected by a four-day disruption throughout the state following the shutdown of the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) here.
Deputy Energy Transition and Public Utilities Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said water supply has normalised in the three districts in Seberang Prai and the northeast district on the island.
He said, in the southwest district on the island, only five per cent of those affected had received water supply.
"The water supply recovery plan is on track and even a little ahead of schedule.
"We hope the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will stick to the schedule and hope all areas will receive water supply in 96 hours," he told newsmen after a working visit to the Sungai Dua WTP here this afternoon.
Akmal Nasrullah also said that PBAPP had obtained approval from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to carry out water works at the Sungai Dua WTP to replace two leaking control valves, which warranted the shutdown of the Sungai Dua WTP.
He said the approval was also for planned water works at 22 other locations.
"The valves replacement works have been successful completed," he added.
Of the 22 water works, only one has yet to be completed, which is the work at Sungai Prai. Even then, it is 50 per cent completed.
"Once that is fixed by tomorrow morning, water supply will normalised, especially in the southwest district.
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"We want to thank PBAPP for bravely facing this challenge. This is to prevent unscheduled water supply disruption as we are facing numerous festivities in the next few months," he added.
Akmal Nasrullah said the 102 water tankers currently available would be mobilised to affected areas.
Early this morning, PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said they had completed all planned water works at the Sungai Dua WTP and 22 other locations ahead of schedule yesterday.
He said the stage one of the water supply recovery plan commenced from 11pm yesterday.
Stage one is not affected by the mishap at Sungai Prai because the Sungai Dua WTP is pumping water to stage one recovery consumers via other major pipelines.