The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said supply has been restored to 85% of these homes and businesses, but about 17,700 were still without water.

In a statement, PBAPP said its personnel were working to fix the problem, especially in areas that were on higher ground and at the ends of the water supply lines.

The water cuts began at 10pm on Friday to allow for a major pipeline to be replaced after it was damaged by a utility contractor. Supply was supposed to resume 24 hours later, but this was amended to noon yesterday after a leak was detected at a section of the pipeline.

Although the pipe has been fixed, PBAPP CEO K Pathmanathan said some areas did not have water because of an ongoing de-airing process, which removes trapped air from water pipes to restore normal water flow and pressure in the system.

He said the Sungai Dua water treatment plant, which supplies water to most parts of the state, is working at full capacity again.