GEORGE TOWN, October 5 – Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) is poised to present a comprehensive “Sungai Muda Crisis Management Plan” (SM-CMP) to the Penang State Government in the near future. This plan will outline a range of viable and cost-effective water supply engineering solutions designed to safeguard Penang’s water consumers from the repercussions of potential “Sungai Muda incidents” in Kedah. These solutions encompass:
1. 400 MLD Emergency Drawdown Pipelines: These pipelines will connect the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) to the Sungai Dua Canal, increasing maximum emergency drawdowns from the current 300 MLD (million liters per day) to 600 MLD, and eventually to 1,000 MLD.
2. Raw Water Pre-Treatment Works: These works involve the pre-filtration and treatment of raw water entering the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to effectively remove particles and sediments from highly turbid raw water sourced from Sungai Muda.
3. Off-river Raw Water Storage Facility (TAPS) (Mini Riverside Dam): This facility will provide a standby supply of raw water for 24-36 hours (1,000 – 1,500 million liters) that can be pumped to the Sungai Dua Canal when needed.
4. Sungai Dua Balancing Pond 2: This component includes a higher volume of “settled water” (170 million liters) with fewer particles and sediments, located near the Sungai Dua WTP.
5. Sungai Dua Treatment Works Upgrade: The upgrade involves enhancing water treatment modules’ capabilities to treat more turbid water, from a maximum of 1,000 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units) to 2,500 NTU.
It is important to consider several key aspects regarding the implementation of these SM-CMP solutions:
- Cost Implications: Each solution is expected to involve significant investment, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of ringgit. These costs will be gradually recouped through future water tariffs in Penang. PBAPP is finalizing specific project cost estimates before seeking approval for the overall plan.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Some solutions may undergo evaluation to determine their cost-effectiveness and value as engineering solutions.
- Regulatory Approval: Each solution must gain approval from the Penang State Government and the National Water Services Commission (Federal Government).
- Timeline: The implementation of each solution may take several years, adhering to government regulations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for major water supply engineering works.
The primary driver behind the SM-CMP is public feedback, complaints, and dissatisfaction. PBAPP serves over 676,000 water consumers in Penang, with a significant portion depending on treated water from the Sungai Dua WTP, which sources raw water from Sungai Muda. Without the SM-CMP, water supply in Penang is vulnerable to disruption whenever Sungai Muda incidents occur. Since July 2022, Penang has faced three state-wide water crises related to incidents involving Sungai Muda in Kedah. These events have underscored the need for proactive measures to safeguard water supply services in Penang.
PBAPP has noted a delay in Phase 2B of the Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project (MDEP), now rescheduled for completion in early January 2024. This phase involves the installation of a 7km x 1.6m diameter pipeline from the Mak Sulong Pumping Station near the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) to the Sungai Dua Canal, enhancing raw water drawdown capacity by 300 MLD. PBAPP appeals to the Federal Government to expedite the completion of Phase 2B, which will serve as a crucial buffer to mitigate the impact of Sungai Muda incidents until the approved SM-CMP solutions are implemented in Penang.
