Call to implement cloud seeding for Penang and Kedah now

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is urgently requesting the Meteorological Department to conduct cloud seeding in order to induce more rainfall in Penang and Kedah.

Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said this was because the effective capacities of six key dams in Penang and Kedah was low, due to abnormally dry weather since the second half of last year.

The effective capacities of these dams as of yesterday was 33.3 per cent for Air Itam dam; Teluk Bahang dam (20.9 per cent); Mengkuang dam (68.3 per cent); Muda dam (4.4 per cent); Beris dam (39.6 per cent) and Pedu dam (33.4 per cent).

Jaseni said the Sungai Muda river level had dropped to 1.29m on Tuesday, below the critical level of 1.5m. The normal level of the Sungai Muda is above 2.0m.

He said the Muda dam and Beris dam in Kedah were built to release water into Sungai Muda, the primary raw water resource for Penang and southern Kedah during dry seasons.

According to the Meteorological Department, the country was currently in the inter-monsoon season where rain would be expected.

"However, we are requesting for cloud-seeding now to mitigate the risks of low rainfall. With the presence of rain clouds now, it makes good sense to implement cloud seeding to induce as much rainfall as possible because the potential for success is high.

"We need more rainfall now in the water catchment areas of the six key dams in Penang and Kedah, as well as Sungai Muda, because Penang and Kedah must have sufficient water supply to fight Covid-19.

"As it stands, a total of 3.95 million people residing in Penang and Kedah need continuous water supply daily to practise good personal hygiene. We do not know how long we have to fight Covid-19, even after the Movement Control Order (MCO) is lifted.

"As such, we hope the Meteorological Department will act promptly on our request in the interests of public health and safety," he said today.

Jaseni said PBAPP had received a number of intermittent “low water pressure” or “no water supply” reports from consumers in the past few days.

He said these complaints were related to water supply issues faced by a few households in Pokok Ceri, Hye Keat Estate, Flat 420 Taman Bukit Bendera, Kampung Paya Terubong, Kampung Gertak Sanggul and Mount Erskine.

He said that the affected areas were generally classified as “higher ground” or “end-of-pipeline” areas.

"As and when water consumption is too high, these areas will experience low water pressure or no water supply.

"PBAPP has responded by despatching water tankers to the affected areas. PBAPP’s normal response will be to boost water production at the Air Itam Water Treatment Plant and/or the Batu Ferringhi Water Treatment Plant to address such issues.

"However, in this present abnormal dry season scenario, PBAPP cannot aggressively draw down the low reserves of the Air Itam dam and the Teluk Bahang dam to supply more raw water to these water treatment plants. In this context, we apologise to all consumers who are presently experiencing intermittent 'low water pressure' or 'no water supply' issues in Penang," he added.

PBAPP, Jaseni said, would continue to do its best to alleviate the situation.

He, however, seeks consumers’ patience and understanding to note that the primary cause was high water demand during peak hours, due to abnormal circumstances.

"Nevertheless, PBAPP must continue to prioritise its primary objective of 'no water rationing at all costs' until dam capacities in Penang are sufficiently replenished by rainfall.

"As such, we are requesting for the Meteorological Department to conduct cloud seeding operations now," he stressed.

Covid-19

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