GEORGE TOWN, November 23 – A drilling error by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) contractors was responsible for the 17-day water disruption in Seberang Perai last month, affecting nearly 100,000 accounts. State infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari told the state assembly that TNB’s horizontal directional drilling inadvertently struck a 1.2-meter diameter pipeline 15 meters underground on September 19, leading to significant damage.
Repairs, which required a specially fabricated replacement pipe, cost the Penang Water Supply Corporation RM2 million and were completed by October 5. Zairil also announced plans for six new water treatment plants to meet future demands, offering an additional capacity of 600 million liters daily. With current average water consumption in Penang at 877 million liters per day, these facilities aim to enhance water security.
Goh Choon Aik (PH-Bukit Tambun) suggested implementing guaranteed water supply mechanisms in areas with high development to prevent future disruptions.
