Penang dams take a critical dip

Shrinking supply: The Ayer Itam Dam capacity has now dropped to 49.1%.

GEORGE TOWN: With the current dry spell, the dams in the state have dipped to critical levels.

The Ayer Itam Dam capacity has fallen to 49.1% compared to 60.4% on March 8, while at the Teluk Bahang Dam, it has dipped to 70.7% from 75.6% during the same period.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is expected to visit the Ayer Itam Dam tomorrow to attend a briefing on the water levels.

Chow had earlier said that the state was considering cloud seeding if the drought continued, adding that any decision would, however, be made by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP).

Cloud seeding is usually consi­dered the next level of precautionary step when the capacity falls below 40%.

Over in Perak, however, things are better, with the water level in several main dams in the state being at a normal level even though the country is experiencing hot weather .

State Public Utilities, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Plantation Committee chairman Abdul Yunus Jamhari said the Sultan Azlan Shah Dam was at 85% capacity with 241.21m of water.

“Meanwhile, the Air Kuning Dam is at 42.50m, with the maximum capacity of 42.52m,” Bernama reported him as saying after he represented Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu at the launch of the Perak-level World Water Day 2019 in Ipoh yesterday.

Abdul Yunus said operations of water supply under the Perak Water Board (LAP) was normal and water production was at normal level.

However, he said, although there is adequate water supply, consumers are reminded to use water prudently and prevent wastage.

Earlier, in his speech, Abdul Yunus said according to a report by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Perak received 2,900 milimetres of rainfall a year, with a total quantity of three times the global average.

“With this, Perak can be categorised as a state rich in water resources to meet all domestic, agriculture, industry and environment needs, with the network of clean water supply covering 100% of urban areas and 99.2% of rural areas.

“The state government has provided 25 cubic metres of free water with a total of 25,000 litres of clean water to target groups, beginning last August,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago in a statement for World Water Day said Malaysia was currently facing the issue of water shortage due to the prolonged dry season in various parts of the country.

“Thousands of families are facing water disruptions and have to resort to taking water from water tanker.

“If we do not start to save water it will become a norm to have disruptions as the weather patterns are changing all around the world resulting in more dry bouts like this.

“The Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste dumping incident and the waste dumping in Sungai Klang have caused adverse effects on the public health wise.

“We will also have to bear heavy costs to clean the rivers.

“This should be a lesson to all of us,” he said.

Charles said in conjunction with World Water Day he would like to urge Malaysians to bear the responsibility of conserving water with SPAN.

“Use water prudently and do not pollute our water source.

“We have to change the way we use water,” he said.