Precious resource: Penangites were advised to use water wisely after two main dams in the state did not fill up despite the rain. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
Growing concerns about potential shortages amid low levels of Penang dams
GEORGE TOWN: Reduce car washing. Use a watering can instead of hoses to water the garden or plants.
These are suggestions from Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) after reports that water usage has exceeded rainfall levels at two key dams on the island.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said with the effective capacity of dams in Air Itam and Teluk Bahang now at only 27.6% and 25.2% respectively, there are growing concerns about potential water shortages and resource sustainability.
He said the low effective capacities of both dams constituted a threat to water supply to a total of 74,798 consumer accounts in Air Itam, Bandar Baru Air Itam, Teluk Bahang, Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah and nearby areas.
“Water users need to reduce their daily consumption. Despite some rainfall from Aug 1 to 10, it didn’t increase the dams’ capacity due to higher daily water consumption.
“We have to release more water to meet demand.
“In other words, water users in these areas are using more water than the amount of rainfall received.
“Please reduce water usage until the expected rainfall arrives in September and the fourth quarter of 2024 to replenish the dams to safe levels,” he said in a statement.
Pathmanathan said both dams were designed and built to be refilled by rainwater and cannot be replenished by any other means.
“Considering these key specifications, PBAPP is pumping up to 33 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water into the service areas in Air Itam through the Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2024 (AIDAP 2024).
“We are working with the Penang government to request the National Disaster Management Agency to conduct cloud seeding operations over the catchment areas of the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam,” he said.
Pathmanathan said the phenomenon was not only affecting dams in Penang, but also key dams in Kedah and Perak that may only be refilled with rainfall.
He said as of Monday, the effective capacity of the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) in Seberang Perai was 86.3%; Muda Dam (7.8%) and Beris Dam (53.9%) in Kedah. In Perak, the Bukit Merah Dam was recorded at 33% as of Aug 12.
He added that the Sungai Muda river level at Penang’s Lahar Tiang Intake was 3.06m, which was more than 1.0m above the “2.0m safe level”.
“For now, PBAPP is abstracting raw water from this river daily for use at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in north Seberang Perai.
“The service area includes the majority of areas in the whole Seberang Perai district, and the highly populated areas in southwest and northeast on the island, including the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone,” he said.
He said the number of Penang consumer accounts served by the Sungai Dua WTP was about 465,000, or about 66.7% of Penang’s water consumer base.
“There is no immediate threat to water supply services for about 66.7% of Penang’s consumer accounts since the river level of Sungai Muda is relatively ‘healthy’ for now,” he said.
In Perlis, water level at the sole dam – Timah Tasoh – plunged further below the normal level of 29.1m.
A check at publicinfobanjir website showed that the water level was 26.85m, a drop of 0.02m.
This drastic decrease has severely impacted water supply for irrigating padi farms. However, domestic usage is not affected.
