GEORGE TOWN: Raw water reserves at the Teluk Bahang and Air Itam dams have dropped to dangerously low levels, raising concerns about potential shortages.
As of today, the Teluk Bahang dam is at 26.4 per cent capacity, while the Air Itam dam stands at 29.7 per cent. Both are below the critical threshold of 30 per cent, which is considered a dangerous level.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan warned that if no rain falls, the water at the Air Itam dam could last less than a month, and the Teluk Bahang dam could sustain supply for about 80 days.
"However, we expect the rainy season to begin next month," he told the New Straits Times.
Meanwhile, checks at the Teluk Bahang dam today showed the water level had decreased significantly, with parts of an old road, which submerged over two decades, now visible.
This road once connected Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau.
In response to the low water levels, Pathmanathan has called on water users to cut their consumption by 10 per cent to help conserve the remaining water.
PBAPP has also requested cloud seeding to replenish the dams and is awaiting a response from the federal government.
Last week, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said that the Teluk Bahang dam, along with two other dams, was at a dangerous level, while five other dams, including Air Itam, were at a warning level.