GEORGE TOWN, April 12 – The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has issued a second water alert after two key dams on Penang island have dropped to about 50 per cent levels and water consumers are advised to use water wisely until heavy rains arrive to refill the dams. As at 10.4.2023, the effective capacities of the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam are as follows
PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said as of yesterday the effective capacities of the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam were 51.8 per cent and 51.3 per cent respectively. He said the effective capacities of both dams were 82.5 per cent and 64 per cent at the start of this year. He added that rainfall recorded in the dams’ water catchment areas for the months of January, February and March was 251mm. While the average daily consumption of water for Penang in the corresponding two months were 875 and 944 million litres per day (MLD). The amount of rainfall recorded in the dams’ water catchment areas for the months of January, February and March 2023 are as follows:
These statistics reflect the facts that low rainfall in the dams’ water catchment areas (WCAs) and high water demand are the two key factors that caused the effective capacities of the Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam to drop by 30.7% and 12.7% since 1.1.2023. In response to this water supply alert scenario, Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) is implementing the following water supply engineering measures:
Optimising raw water abstraction from Sungai Muda and treated water production at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (Sungai Dua WTP); Pumping more treated water from the Sungai Dua WTP to Penang Island (via 3 sets of twin submarine pipelines) to support water supply on the island; Minimising raw water drawdowns from the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam as far as possible, without compromising water supply services;
Stepping up dry weather controls to strategically “defend” the effective capacities of the Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam for as long as possible; Re-scheduling planned pipe works to minimise water wastage; Responding to public reports of burst or leaking pipes as soon as possible; and Preparing contingency plans to address water demand in higher ground and end-of-line (EoL) areas if the current dry season persists. PBAPP is also seeking the cooperation of all Penang domestic water consumers (households) to use water wisely.
PBAPP’s 2022 consumption analysis data shows that domestic water consumption accounted for 61.5% of Penang’s average daily consumption of 868 million litres per day (MLD). As such, we would like to request for all households in Penang to kindly not leave any tap running; avoid using a hose as far as possible; clean vehicles (cars and motorcycles) only when necessary; water gardens and plants using watering cans instead of hoses; repair all leaking pipes and faucets immediately; and storage of least one-day requirement in the household.
