Water supply to 34,000 accounts in Machang expected to be restored tomorrow after pipe repairs

Machang, a small town in Kelantan, is set to restore water supply to around 34,000 households and establishments, starting tomorrow at noon. This restoration will take place in stages after a significant pipe leak in Pulai Chondong area was detected on Friday. The leak, found in a 1,100-millimetre glass-fibre reinforced plastic pipe, measures approximately 10 centimetres, and extensive cracks, covering nearly half of the pipe, were also discovered, likely caused by erosion.

The Kelantan Public Works, Infrastructure, Water and Rural Development Committee chairman, Datuk Dr Izani Husin, informed reporters that Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) had instructed specialist contractors from Kemaman, Terengganu to undertake the urgent repairs. These contractors were initially expected to complete the task within ten days but managed to finish the work within four days.

In response to the disruption, AKSB deployed 24 lorries and water tankers, supplying about 1.04 million litres of water daily to affected consumers, including hospitals, dialysis centres, prisons, schools, hostels, educational institutions, and residential areas. Assistance was provided by water operators from Kedah, Pahang, Johor, Penang, Selangor, and Perak.

Dr Mohd Hilmi P. Ramli, AKSB's head of Production, revealed that the company plans to replace the GRP pipe with mild steel pipes following this incident, as the pipe has suffered from four leaks since its commissioning eight years ago. The initial phase of the replacement will involve 800 metres of the 10-kilometre pipeline, funded by Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad, with an estimated cost of RM3 million.