Second cloud seeding op needed to replenish Penang dams

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is recommending a second wave of cloud seeding operations as raw water reserves of the Air Itam and Teluk Bahang dams were still below 50%.

The first cloud seeding was carried out on May 2, 3 and 4 with the support and assistance of the National Disaster Management Agency, Royal Malaysian Air Force, MetMalaysia and Penang Water Regulatory Body.

PBAPP chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said the corporation recorded 8.5mm of rainfall in the Air Itam Dam and 19.5mm of rain in the Teluk Bahang Dam catchment areas.

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"There was rainfall in the water catchment areas during the days when the cloud seeding was carried out, however much more rainfall is required to replenish the dams.

"With the possibility of a (hot and dry) El Nino phenomenon, around May to July this year, it is imperative to do all that can be done to prevent the two dams on the island from running dry before the next rainy season arrives.

He said two of the key factors that caused the rapid depletion of dam reserves in 2023 were the low volume of rainfall since January and the high water consumption which accounted for 61.6% of total water consumption in Penang in 2022.

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"On its part, PBAPP will pump more treated water from Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant in Seberang Prai to the island to reduce dependency on the Air Itam Dam as far as possible.

"One of PBAPP's primary objectives now is to avoid the complete depletion of the Air Itam Dam reserves during a potential El Nino year and to achieve this we need the urgent cooperation of the Penang domestic water consumers," added Pathmanathan.