The follows the commissioning of Package 12A at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant (WTP) on Saturday, Bernama reported.

Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) CEO K Pathmanathan said Package 12A refers to a new water treatment module within the premises of the Sungai Dua WTP, built rapidly in response to higher post-pandemic water demand.

He said the Sungai Dua WTP is Penang’s largest and most important water treatment plant, supplying treated water to 465,000 consumers daily.

“On the mainland, the service areas for the Sungai Dua WTP include most areas in Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan.

“Treated water from the Sungai Dua WTP is also pumped to consumers in the Barat Daya and Timur Laut districts on Penang island,” he said in a statement today.

This year, Pathamanathan said PBAPP is also pumping up to 33MLD of water from Sungai Dua to the Air Itam service area under its Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2024.

On a separate matter, he said work has also commenced on the project to lay a new 1.35m river-crossing pipeline at Sungai Perai, near the Ampang Jajar bridge.

“This pipeline is scheduled for commissioning in January 2026.

“When completed, this Sungai Perai river-crossing pipeline will allow PBAPP to pump higher volumes of treated water from the Sungai Dua WTP to Penang island.

“This measure will address sporadic water shortage issues in some high ground and end-of-line neighbourhoods in the Barat Daya and Timur Laut districts.”

He added that this pipeline is being laid to supply more water to about 120,000 water consumers on Penang island, including the factories in the Bayan Lepas free trade zone.

It will also enhance the stability of water supply services in the western, south-western and southern parts of the island.