GEORGE TOWN, February 9 – The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has formally reached out to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to urgently request support for cloud seeding operations in the water catchment areas of the Air Itam Dam and Air Itam Water Treatment Plant (WTP). In a letter dated 2.2.2024, PBAPP addressed SPAN CEO Dato’ Haji Ahmad Faizal bin Abdul Rahman, emphasizing the critical need for cloud seeding operations in March 2024, during the inter-monsoon season, to bolster the effective capacity of the Air Itam Dam.
These efforts are crucial to ensuring continuous water supply services for approximately 30,000 consumers in Air Itam, encompassing both domestic and non-domestic users. PBAPP highlighted that cloud seeding operations conducted in May and June 2023 resulted in a total of 30.5mm of rainfall in the catchment areas of the Air Itam Dam and Air Itam WTP. This precipitation played a pivotal role in averting a water crisis in Air Itam last year. With PBAPP awaiting feedback from SPAN, preliminary discussions regarding the proposed cloud seeding operations are poised to commence.
Concurrently, PBAPP is preparing to present its “Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2024” (AIDAP 2024) to the Penang State Government, aimed at gradually increasing the effective capacity of the Air Itam Dam through strategic water management initiatives.
