THE Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is currently taking the necessary measures to ensure the effective water capacities at Air Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam are at optimum levels.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jaseni Maidinsa said this is crucial to sustaining a stable water supply for the next dry season that is expected from February to April next year.
“As of today, the effective capacity of Air Itam Dam is 68.9% and the effective capacity of Teluk Bahang Dam is 39.2%.
“As for Mengkuang Dam in Bukit Mertajam, it still has the highest effective capacity of all the three dams. It recorded 85.3% as of today.
“We need to achieve a minimum effective capacity of 90% for Air Itam Dam and a minimum effective capacity of 60% for Teluk Bahang Dam by December this year.
“If not, we cannot sustain the water supply for the upcoming dry season early next year,” Jaseni told Buletin Mutiara when contacted today.
According to Jaseni, PBAPP is currently doing dry weather controls to release as little water as possible to sustain the dam water levels, especially on the two dams on the island.
“We will also continue to do the cloud seeding operations until December this year.
“Another proactive action by PBAPP is to divert excess raw water from Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau and Batu Ferringhi water catchment areas to Teluk Bahang Dam since Sept 12 and Sept 27 respectively.
“With all these actions, we hope to achieve the minimum dam capacities by December this year.
“We also would like to advise the public to use water wisely,” he said.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal