A RM470,000 water tank maintenance and replacement project has begun at Taman Sahabat in Bayan Lepas to address recurring low water pressure and insufficient water-storage capacity affecting residents.

The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) commenced the project on 13 October, with work expected to take approximately four months to complete.

Bayan Lepas assemblyman Datuk Azrul Mahathir Aziz said the project aims to improve water supply reliability at the residential development, where residents have experienced problems linked to low water pressure and inadequate storage facilities.

According to Azrul, the project involves cooperation between residents, PBAPP and the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) under the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

Project follows procurement process

The upgrade was preceded by MBPP's procurement process, with separate tenders covering water tank upgrading works at the residential blocks.

Official state procurement records show that the tender for Block A was awarded to SF Megah Empire at RM121,456, while the tender covering Blocks B, C and D was awarded to BMP Engineering at RM311,060.

The two awarded contracts total RM432,516, while the overall allocation announced for the project is RM470,000.

The procurement results were published in September, ahead of the project's commencement in October.

The work is intended to address the infrastructure issues affecting water supply at Taman Sahabat. 

However, details on the precise age of the existing tanks, the number of households affected and the frequency of previous supply disruptions were not specified in the announcement.

Residents urged to cooperate during construction

Azrul called on residents to cooperate with contractors throughout the four-month construction period, particularly regarding parking arrangements.

The work requires heavy machinery, including cranes, to access the water tank facilities on the fourth floor of the residential blocks.

Residents' cooperation is therefore necessary to facilitate equipment movement and allow contractors to carry out the upgrading works.

Azrul also said PBAPP had committed RM1 million annually towards maintenance-related projects since last year, with RM470,000 allocated for the Taman Sahabat works this year.

Two more projects announced for Penang

In a related development, Azrul highlighted two additional projects intended to improve residential infrastructure and water supply in the surrounding area.

At Taman Emas, an RM800,000 roof-replacement project funded through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is scheduled to begin on 15 October.

Meanwhile, PBAPP has allocated RM500,000 for the construction of an additional water tank and installation of a booster pump near the Sungai Batu traffic lights.

The project aims to improve water supply, particularly in higher-elevation areas and locations at the end of distribution pipelines, where maintaining adequate pressure can be challenging.

Together, the three projects represent investments in residential maintenance and local water infrastructure, with the Taman Sahabat upgrade now underway and the Taman Emas roof replacement scheduled to begin later this week.