Its CEO K Pathmanathan said this was one of seven benefits Penang stood to gain from receiving access to water from Perak.
He also hailed the announcement as “the best water news in 51 years”, given that Penang’s water consumption in February 2024 was 927 million litres per day (MLD), with projections indicating a demand of 1,532 MLD by 2030 and 1,844 MLD by 2040.
“PBAPP is implementing the Water Contingency Plan 2030 to ensure water supply sufficiency until 2030,” he said in a statement.
“(However), beyond 2030, Penang needs the Perak-Penang water project and/or strategic desalination and wastewater recycling project.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Perak government had agreed to supply water to Penang through the proposed Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park.
Anwar said this was agreed on by Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah and menteri besar Saarani Mohamad.
Following the announcement, Saarani said he expected plans to develop a water treatment plant in north Perak to be sped up.
In a statement, Pathmanathan also said that buying water from Perak would stabilise water supply for 79,956 consumers in Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS).
“The water from Perak will be pumped into the southern area of the mainland. As such, the Perak-Penang water project will improve and stabilise the water supply for about 79,956 consumers in SPS,” he said.
With direct water supply to SPS from Perak, he said that PBAPP might no longer need to transfer water to SPS from the Sungai Dua water treatment plant (WTP) in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU).
He said this would indirectly benefit consumers in SPU, SPT and Penang island.
“Accordingly, a higher volume of treated water from the Sungai Dua WTP may then be redirected to about 491,153 water consumers in SPU, SPT, Daerah Barat Daya and Daerah Timur Laut on Penang island,” Pathmanathan said.
He also highlighted other benefits, including mitigating climate change risks and minimising incidents related to Sungai Muda for improved emergency response planning.
He added that buying water from Perak would be more cost-effective than desalination or wastewater recycling projects, thereby ensuring reasonable water rates for consumers.