Sg Perai pipe diversion work reaches 50pct - Penang CM

The construction of a temporary pipe diversion across Sungai Perai in Penang, along the sides of Ampang Jajar bridge, has reached 50 percent, and is expected to be completed on Feb 2.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the construction work, including the installation of two 600mm pipes, was going smoothly and on schedule.

He said the operation of these two pipes was a temporary solution, which would deal with the greater risk of leakage, compared with the leaking riverbed pipe in Sungai Perai.

“The two 600mm pipes are to temporarily replace the 1,350mm riverbed pipe in Sungai Perai which leaked recently; the new pipes can be used for between six and eight months before the new Sungai Perai project is carried out,” he said.

Chow (above, left) was speaking to reporters after visiting Sungai Perai in Butterworth.

The site visit also saw Penang Water Supply Corporation (PWSC) CEO K Pathmanathan and state executive councillor (infrastructure and digital) Zairil Khir Johari.

Chow added that once the temporary pipe installation is completed, there will be a scheduled water supply disruption involving 120,000 users, especially in the Barat Daya region.

He said the water disruption will last for around 16 to 24 hours, and customers will be notified in advance by the PWSC so they can prepare by storing water supplies.

Meanwhile, Pathmanathan said, until today, PWSC has borne losses of as much as 154 million litres per day from the leakage of the riverbed pipe in Sungai Perai.

“With the operation of the two 600mm pipes above the water surface, the riverbed pipe will cease operation, and then PWSC will seek the approval of its board of directors to start work on a new 1,350mm pipeline across the river, with its support structure as a permanent solution,” he said.

He said the permanent solution was necessary because PWSC needed a new 1,350mm pipeline section which could handle more high-pressure water flow than the two 600mm pipes.

Besides, he added that PWSC cannot permanently load pipes and water masses on the Ampang Jajar bridge for the sake of public interest and the guarantee of water supply.

- Bernama