Can Penang dams reach safe levels before the next dry season?

Question

Accepted Answer

Penang Dams Face Challenges in Reaching Safe Levels Before Next Dry Season

As of September 23, both the Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam in Penang have seen their effective capacities increase due to recent rainfall, but they remain below what is considered a safe level. The primary objective is to replenish these dams between September and December to ensure adequate water supply for the dry season commencing in January 2025. While the Air Itam Dam is projected to reach 85% capacity or more by December, the Teluk Bahang Dam requires substantial rainfall to significantly improve its current 31.3% effective capacity.
Air Itam Dam Replenishment Efforts

The Air Itam Dam, which has an effective capacity of 2,159 million litres and serves approximately 28,948 consumers in areas like Air Itam and Farlim, is the subject of the 2024 Air Itam Dam Action Plan (AIDAP 2024). This plan includes pumping up to 33 million litres of treated water daily from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to the Air Itam Dam service area. This measure helps reduce daily output from the dam itself, thereby facilitating faster replenishment. As of September 23, its effective capacity stood at 58.3%.
Teluk Bahang Dam's Substantial Rainfall Requirement

In contrast, the Teluk Bahang Dam, with a much larger capacity of 19,240 million litres, is currently at a critically low effective capacity of 31.3%. To reach a more secure level of 80% or more by December 2024, it is anticipated that a substantial amount of rainfall will be necessary. Beyond natural rainfall, efforts are underway to pump raw water from the Batu Ferringhi and Sungai Pinang water catchment areas into the Teluk Bahang Dam before the next dry season begins.
Uncertainty Surrounding Rainfall Patterns

A significant factor influencing the replenishment of both dams is the unpredictability of rainfall between September and December. While recent heavy showers have provided some relief, the precise amount of precipitation in the coming months for the catchment areas of these two dams cannot be accurately forecasted. This uncertainty poses a challenge in guaranteeing that both dams will achieve optimal levels before the onset of the dry season in January 2025.
Call for Water Conservation Amidst Improvement

Despite the observed increase in water levels, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has urged residents to continue conserving water. This advisory highlights that even with ongoing replenishment efforts and the current rainfall, the dams have not yet reached a definitively safe level. The corporation's goal is to ensure sufficient reserves for the anticipated dry period, underscoring the importance of continued responsible water usage by the public.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Can Penang dams reach safe levels before the next dry season?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends