GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is implementing phase one of its crisis management plan to ensure water supply sufficiency until next month, the Penang government said.
State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said PBAPP would optimise water production at the Batu Ferringgi Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Guillemard WTP without overly compromising the effective capacity of Teluk Bahang dam to deliver as much treated water into service areas of the Waterfall and Sungai Pinang WTP.
He said PBAPP was also stepping up production of treated water at the Air Itam WTP without overly compromising the effective capacity of Air Itam dam.
"This will reduce Air Itam's dependency on treated water from Sungai Dua, which can be diverted to the Waterfall WTP's service area.
"Similarly, PBAPP is controlling valves and pumping operations to deliver as much treated water into service areas of the Waterfall and Sungai Pinang WTP," he told the 'New Straits Times'.
Zairil said PBAPP would also deploy water tankers and static tanks to affected areas.
"They are also controlling valves and pumping operations during off-peak hours on weekends to optimise refilling of key reservoirs (Bukit Dumbar, Bukit Gedung and Teluk Kumbar).
"This will ensure continuous water supply in the southwest district during peak hours on weekdays when water demand is high in industrial areas,."
Zairil said PBAPP was also communicating with the Badan Kawal Selia Air (BKSA) to manage irrigation water abstractions from Sungai Muda.
The NST reported that raw water reserves at the Teluk Bahang and Air Itam dams had dropped to dangerously low levels, raising concerns about potential shortages.
Yesterday, the Teluk Bahang dam was at 26.4 per cent capacity, while the Air Itam dam stood at 29.7 per cent.
Both are below the critical threshold of 30 per cent, which is considered a dangerous level.
Today, the Teluk Bahang dam is at 26.6 per cent capacity, while the Air Itam dam stands at 28.9 per cent.
PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan warned that if there was no rainfall, 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.
PBAPP had requested cloud seeding to replenish the dams and is awaiting the federal government's response.
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.
On cloud seeding, Zairil said Nadma was in the process of obtaining the Meteorological Department of Malaysia's analaysis and availability of the Royal Malaysian Air Force flight.
Nadma carried out cloud seeding targeting the Bukit Merah dam in Perak and the Muda dam in Kedah from July 29 to July 31.
Moderate to heavy rain was recorded in its target areas and their surroundings on all three days of cloud seeding.
This resulted in the concentration of moist air in northern part of the peninsula, which will indirectly benefit both the Air Itam and Teluk Bahang dams in due course.
Malaysia has been experiencing the southwest monsoon starting from May 17 and it will continue until next month.
During the southwest monsoon, winds typically blow consistently from the southwest with lower humidity and more stable atmospheric conditions.
This led to reduced cloud formation and consequently lower rainfall during this period.