GEORGE TOWN: Water level at the Air Itam dam is approaching to its third critical level at 30.8 per cent. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
At the present rate, he said, the water supply from the Air Itam dam is projected to last for only 30 more days.
The first critical level is when the dam water reaches 50 per cent, second at 40 per cent and third at 30 per cent.
"We are almost at the third critical level now. At this rate, the water supply from the Air Itam dam can last for only 30 days.
"Compounding the situation, we have only received 22.5mm of rainfall in the Air Itam catchment area since the beginning of this month, which resulted in the drastic drop in water level at the Air Itam dam," he said after attending the Raya Carnival organised by the Bukit Bendera member of Parliament at SK Jalan Residensi here today.
Asked if this was the first time the water level at the Air Itam dam was nearing the third critical level, he said it had possibly happened before in the past.
Chow added that the rainfall would usually be 300mm monthly.
"What we are getting is very little. But rest assured, there is a contingency plan by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) in place to increase the water level. I have contacted the PBAPP and the plan is still in place.
"PBAPP has been increasing the drawdown to meet the demands of the festive period during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
"But from today onwards, PBAPP will revert to the Air Itam Water Dam Action Plan 2024 (AIDAP 2024)," he said.
On Feb 2, PBAPP said it was finalising the AIDAP 2024 proposal to the state government that might potentially increase the effective capacity of the Air Itam dam from 34.6 per cent to 50 per cent by the end of April.
This followed the dwindling of the Air Itam dam water level. On Thursday, the New Straits Times reported that water supply from the Air Itam dam was expected to last for only 32 days due to the increased demand during the festive period.
PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said water levels at the dam had depleted despite the recent downpour.
Such a situation, he said, was normal since the PBAPP has increased the drawdown to meet the demands of the festive period during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.