Penangites urged to conserve water to weather the dry spell

GEORGE TOWN: Penangites have been urged to conserve water although there should be enough in the state’s dams to last through the current hot and dry season.

Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa (pic) advised consumers to avoid using a hose to carry out cleaning activities and to wash their vehicles less frequently.

“Hosing wastes water. Avoid using a hose at all costs,” he said in a press statement on Wednesday.

He also said the public could visit www.pba.com.my for more water saving tips.

Jaseni said there has been very little rain in Penang over the last 30 days while daytime temperatures have soared to 35 °C.

“However, there is no immediate danger of a water crisis or water rationing,” he added.

He said PBAPP has been implementing programmes since the fourth quarter of last year to avoid rationing in this 2016 “Super El Niño” season.

Jaseni said this includes optimising Penang’s dam reserves by drawing as little water as possible each day so that there is adequate storage during the dry season and expediting repairs for burst pipes.

He said PBAPP had also increased extraction of water from the Muda River for treatment at the Sungai Dua treatment plant on the mainland, which has been producing about 900 million litres of treated water per day, to meet Penang’s daily needs.

Jaseni said water in Penang’s dams should be sufficient to last until the rains arrive next month.

The capacity of the Air Itam Dam is at 75.7%, which is enough to last 74 days; and Teluk Bahang Dam is at 72.3%, which is enough for 220 days of supply.

On Jan 1, the capacities of the Air Itam Dam and the Teluk Bahang Dam were 89.3% and 84.2% respectively, he said.

He also said PBAPP can still extract around one billion litres of water per day from the Muda River daily for treatment at the Sungai Dua plant although the river level has dropped to 2.41m.

Jaseni said if there is any shortfall, there is a standing agreement that the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry will ask Kedah to release water into the river from the Muda Dam.

Penang’s Mengkuang Dam is temporarily decommissioned to facilitate the RM1.2bil upgrading works by the ministry.

Jaseni said the Muda River is Penang’s primary source of raw water.