The Penang Water Supply Corporation said in a statement that work to connect the two pipes started at 11.30pm yesterday and was scheduled to take 16 hours, but was completed earlier.

“Following that, the restoration of water supply to 84% of the 120,000 affected consumers in parts of the Timur Laut and Barat Daya districts can begin earlier and is targeted to be completed by 3.30pm tomorrow.

“The remaining 16% of consumers, including those residing at the end of the distribution line and in high areas, are expected to get their supply at 3.30pm on Friday,” it said.

The pipe leak at the bottom of Sungai Perai last Tuesday marked the third incident since the first in December last year, followed by the second on Jan 12.

The Penang government has installed temporary pipes across Sungai Perai, which are expected to function for at least eight months while the government awaits the new permanent pipe replacement project.