SUNGAI PETANI: A faulty barrage gate opening over the weekend caused water to flow out of Sungai Muda in an unhindered manner, says Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
Sanusi said an automatic sensor at one of the barrage gates failed, causing the gate to open by itself.
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"A large quantity of river water flowed out to sea in an uncontrolled manner, causing Sungai Muda to almost dry up," he added.
A barrage is like a river dam full of gates across the width of the river that regulate water levels upriver for irrigation and water supply.
A source in the Penang government has revealed that the gate failed sometime between late Saturday (May 13) and the wee hours of Sunday (May 14).
The source added this was the first time in living memory that Sungai Muda had almost dried up.
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Following from the incident, the faulty gate was fixed and some water has been released from the Beris Dam in Sik to restore the river's flow.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that as of 11pm on Sunday (May 15), the water level at Lahar Tiang had gone up to 1.46m and the intake point was pumping raw water to the water treatment plant in Sungai Dua.
"Treated water production at the Sungai Dua WTP has reached 90%," said Chow, who is also the Penang Water Supply Corporation chairman.
Data from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry website showed that as of 2am on Monday (May 15), Sungai Muda's level near Lahar Tiang had begun rising steadily.
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As of 8am, it was at 1.97m, which is about 1m below normal whereas on Sunday, the river was less than 1m deep and the raw water pumps could not work.
Checks with householders in Sungai Petani, on mainland Penang and in the south of the island revealed that tap water pressure was almost back to normal on Monday morning.
However, many businesses are still affected even though the water supply has returned.
A food seller in George Town who only wanted to be known as Tan, said he decided to close for Monday because of the absence of water.
"Although there is water again, we are still closed because we did not prepare our food ingredients the night before," he said.
