Checking water tanks on high-rise buildings

12/04/2008 The Star By Andrea Filmer

THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has decided to conduct water tank inspections on high-rise condominiums and apartment blocks in an effort to improve the quality of water for their residents.

Although the water company was only responsible for water supply until the meter, PBAPP was acting on its own initiative to help residents receive a clean water supply, said senior manager (corporate) K. Jeyabalan when contacted.

“There have been many complaints from residents in high-rise buildings that the water is yellow and murky.

“Although PBAPP has no control over the water tanks (which fall under the responsibility of the building’s management committee), we have decided to start inspections to inform managements of the state of the tanks,” he said.

He added that since there was no legislation to compel managements to look after the tanks and conduct frequent checks, many of the storage tanks in high-rise buildings were in deplorable conditions.

“If the tanks have not been cleaned and inspected every six months, there could be anything from moss to cockroaches in the tanks,” Jeyabalan said.

From PBAPP’s estimations, there are over 2,000 high-rise residential buildings in the state to be assessed.

“The inspections will start in May and we will begin with the older buildings.

“Some high-rise buildings in Penang have up to eight water tanks, so we estimate it will take a total of two years to complete one round of inspections,” he said.

He added that PBAPP would be bearing the cost of checks.

“We feel this a proactive measure to help water consumers and hope it will encourage managements to step up efforts in maintaining the tanks,” he said.

When contacted, state Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng (pic) said the state would continue their role of overseeing efforts made by PBAPP.

“In the state, there are currently about 1,500km of main and key piping that are outdated and prone to bursting.

“PBAPP is conducting routine work to replace old pipes and is also gradually changing galvanised iron and asbestos piping to high density polyethylene and cement-lined ductile iron pipes,” Lim said.

Lim added that this measure would prevent rusting and cut down the oxidation of metal that helped create sediment in the pipes.

He added that about RM10mil was spent every year on pipe replacement.