The state began a four-day scheduled water cut today.

Chow said that although Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) had been given until 6am tomorrow to carry out the maintenance and valve replacement works, it completed the valve replacement work at 3.30pm and most of the preventative maintenance work today.

“This means that we can start entering the phase of abstracting raw water from Sungai Muda and the Mengkuang dam (to be treated),” he told reporters after inspecting a static water tank placed in Sunway Cassia, Batu Maung, here.

“We are ahead of schedule, but it is too soon for us to announce that we have succeeded.

“We cannot consider the operation a success until the last consumers have received their water.”

Chow said that should everything run smoothly, consumers in Seberang Perai Utara could expect their water supply back tomorrow morning, followed by those in Seberang Perai Tengah, Seberang Perai Selatan and certain parts of George Town.

Separately, Chow said that the rupture to the Sungai Perai pipe earlier today would not stall the operation.

He said that consumers in this district could expect to have water restored by Saturday.

Earlier today, PBAPP CEO K Pathmanathan said a team of 16 divers were sent to the bottom of the river to carry out another round of repairs.