SEBERANG PRAI: The sudden drop of water level at the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP)'s Lahar Tiang intake in Sungai Muda on the mainland here early this morning has affected treated water production at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
According to PBAPP, it was now drawing water from the expanded Mengkuang Dam as an emergency measure.
"However, the volume of water being drawn down from the dam is insufficient to make up for the shortfall in Sungai Muda. As such, the Sungai Dua WTP cannot produce its normal volume of about 1,000 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water to meet demand in Seberang Prai and some areas in Penang island," if said in a statement today.
PBAPP said production had been limited to between 600 MLD and 650 MLD until raw abstraction at Lahar Tiang could be restored to 100 per cent (which is subject to 'recovery' of the Sungai Muda water level).
"Accordingly, Penang water consumers in some areas will experience low water pressure or no supply from today until Wednesday (May 17). Consumers who still have water supply are advised to store water for use over this period of time," it added.
PBAPP said its engineers were working to restore raw water abstraction at Lahar Tiang and treated water production at the Sungai Dua WTP as soon as possible. It added that it would continue to keep Penang water consumers updated.
It was reported that the sudden drop in water level at Sungai Muda had also affected 252,000 premises in Kuala Muda, Kulim and Baling in Kedah.
Syarikat Air Darul Aman Sdn Bhd (Sada) said the sudden drop in water level was caused by damage to the Sungai Muda barrage gate.
Among the areas affected were Sungai Petani, Bedong, Pantai Merdeka, Lunas, Kuala Ketil and several other major areas.