Critical level: An old village road is visible after the water level at the Teluk Bahang Dam has dropped to 29.2%. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: As the water level at Teluk Bahang Dam drops to a critical low, locals are calling for proactive measures to manage water interruptions with minimal inconvenience.
Hawker Indon Mohd Zain, 68, hopes the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) will issue an early notice in the event of a disruption.
“This is to ensure those affected can plan early. Do not wait until the last minute.
“The water authority must work out something for us, such as preparing extra pails and installing water tanks at strategic spots.
“We understand this is the dry season and there is a lack of rainwater,” said Indon, who has lived near Jalan Hassan Abbas for over 40 years.
A check at the dam, which supplies water to some 50,000 holders, yesterday found that the water reservoir capacity was at a dangerous level of 29.2%.
The capacity at Air Itam Dam and Mengkuang Dam were at 35% and 86.7%, respectively.
Another resident Ng Lin Boey, 84, said it would be difficult for her and her ageing husband if there is a water supply disruption.
“We need someone to help us carry the water. I’ll ask my sons to get us more pails and save more water as a precaution,” said the grandmother of three.
Teluk Bahang resident Fazliyati Abdul Razak, 36, attributed the extreme weather to climate change, which she believes has led to unpredictable weather patterns.
She said it was vital for PBAPP and other agencies to look into safeguarding water catchment areas and planting more trees.
“Safeguarding the natural environment means protecting our water catchment areas too,” said the housewife.
Pensioner Helen Mary Elias, 55, suggests cloud seeding be carried out at the dam.
“This can help prevent water disruption,” she said, adding that more water tanks and water tankers must be sent to affected areas.
A visit to the once scenic Titi Kerawang waterfalls near the dam found that although the water still flows, it was not as strong as it used to be.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the capacity of the Teluk Bahang and Air Itam dams could last for another two months.
He said with the current climate change and weather uncertainty, the corporation had requested for cloud seeding to be carried out with the National Disaster Management Agency.
He urged domestic water users to reduce consumption by 10% until the rainy season in September.
Pathmanathan said a 10% reduction in domestic consumption would help PBAPP save 50 million litres of water daily.
Meanwhile, state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said PBAPP had implemented Phase 1 of its Crisis Management Plan to ensure water supply sufficiency until September.
He said the plan includes optimising water production at the Batu Feringghi and Guillemard water treatment plants (WTPs) without overly compromising the effective capacity of Teluk Bahang Dam into delivering as much treated water into service areas of the Waterfall and Sungai Pinang WTPs.
“PBAPP is stepping up production of treated water at the Air Itam WTP without overly compromising the effective capacity of Air Itam Dam.
“This will reduce Air Itam’s dependency on treated water from Sungai Dua which can be diverted to the Waterfall WTP’s service area,” he added.
Zairil said the corporation is also controlling valves and pumping operations to deliver as much treated water into service areas of the Waterfall and Sungai Pinang WTPs.
