PBAPP To Commence SPU Second Water Supply Pipeline Final Works On Jan 28

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will carry out the final connection works for a new RM3.2 million river-crossing pipeline section at Sungai Dua, Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), on Jan 28.

Its chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the works, which would mark the completion of the Second Pipeline Crossing Sungai Perai Project within two years, involves the final connection of a 900mm main pipeline without any Scheduled Water Supply Interruption (SWSI) and a first in the state’s water supply history.

“Hot tapping and line stopping technologies will be used to avoid shutting down the pipeline that supplies treated water from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to SPU and Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT).

“With this implementation, about 26,000 water consumers in SPU and SPT will be spared a potential SWSI that could take place between 24 and 48 hours,” he said in a statement today.

He said that a section of the soon to be replaced old pipeline will be fitted with a hot tapping sleeve, while a line stopping machine will be installed on the sleeve to divert water flow through a temporary bypass pipeline using gate valves.

Pathmanathan said the hot tapping machine installed on the sleeve is capable of cutting into the pipeline from within the sleeve under watertight conditions.

He said eventhough PBAPP had estimated the cost of implementing the line stopping and hot tapping technologies at RM800,000 as compared to about RM80,000 if conventional final connection methods are used, the approach would ensure that water consumers would not be affected by supply interruption.

According to him, PBAPP would consider using the two technologies for future projects if the final connection works for this project are successfully carried out as scheduled and without any issues.

Although the final works are expected to be completed by a specialist contractor without any supply disruption, he sought the consumers’ cooperation in several areas in Penang to store sufficient water for 24 hours needs from Jan 28 to 29, in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.

The areas involved are Sungai Dua, Alma, Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Minyak, Bukit Teh, Cherok Tokun, Kampung Baru, Kampung Kota, Kota Permai, Machang Bubok, Padang Lalang, Penanti, Permatang Pasir, Sungai Rambai, Taman Bukit, Taman Bukit Indah and Taman Sentosa.

-- BERNAMA