Over RM300,000 lost daily from burst pipe under Sungai Perai

 

K Pathmanathan allayed concerns that the present rupture to the pipe under Sungai Perai would cause the river water to mix with the treated water supply. (Bernama pic)

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will lose around RM323,000 daily due to a ruptured pipe under Sungai Perai.

This was revealed by its CEO K Pathmanathan, who said this was based on the loss of 154 million litres of treated water per day since the leak occurred.

The pipe, which supplies treated water from Butterworth to at least half the island, first ruptured on Dec 18, again on Jan 10, and for the third time during major valve repair works on Jan 11.

Pathmanathan said the company has since decided to divert the pipe above ground. He added that the diversion work started on Jan 13 and was expected to be completed by Feb 2.

“Our concern is having water flowing through all pipes. That is our top priority. At the same time, we would like to plug this leak as soon as possible,” he said.

The two riverbed pipes from Butterworth supply treated water via submarine pipes across the channel. The riverbed pipelines were buried 3.5m deep and laid in 1997 by the Penang Water Authority before PBAPP took over.

Pathmanathan also allayed concerns that the present rupture under Sungai Perai would cause the river water to mix with the treated water supply.

He said with water passing through at the speed of 6,300 cubic metres per hour, and some of it leaking out of the pipe, it was impossible for the river water to enter through the same gap.

He added that PBAPP has a large number of water quality monitoring stations and 256 sampling points, with data available on demand.

“Our water quality remains the best and exceeds national standards set,” Pathmanathan said. - FMT