The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 | Page 67

indicate that this river can only adequately meet
Penang’s raw water needs until 2020. Without
another raw water resource, it is impossible for
PBAPP to sustain continuous good water supply
until 2050.
In fact, PBAPP has identified a second raw
water resource for Penang – the Perak River in the
neighbouring state of Perak. Penang’s proposal
for tapping this additional resource involves the
pumping of raw water from this river through a new
water tunnel built across the highlands. The water
will then be discharged into the Ijok River, a tributary
of Sungai Kerian, at the southern border of Penang,
for drawing and treatment in PBAPP-managed plants.

As Penang has migrated to the National
Water Services Re-Structuring Scheme in 2011,
the funding for this proposed inter-state “Sungai
Perak Transfer Water Resources Scheme” is to be
borne by the Federal Government, while Penang
will have to invest in the treatment works.
As Penang is an island state, PBAPP will also
explore the viability of saltwater desalination, as
implemented successfully in Singapore. Although
desalination costs will undoubtedly be higher, the
application of this technology may well guarantee
self-sufficiency for Penang well into the future,
without the inherent risks and threats of inter-state
water dependency.

PBAPP strives to manage water supply sustainably for Penang’s future.

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