Dams up north running low

PETALING JAYA: The water levels at the Air Itam dam in Penang are at caution levels with just 32.8% of its capacity, the Teluk Bahang dam is on a downward trend while the Bukit Merah dam in Perak is at almost half at 58.86% capacity.

Water levels at dams in the northern states of the peninsula are all looking rather dire, thanks to the reduced rainfall and higher surface temperatures.The Padang Saga dam in Kedah had a caution reading (58.38% capacity) while four of the other five dams used for water supply also displayed lower readings.

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The four dams – in Kedah are Ahning, Pedu, Muda and Malut – are still at normal levels, exceeding 70% capacity, according to National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

The Sembrong Barat dam in Johor is similarly displaying caution levels (46.99%).

“During droughts, smaller or shallow dams’ water storage capacity depletes faster compared to larger dams,” said SPAN chairman Charles Santiago.

“Water levels in off-river bunded storage or dams that rely on pumping, such as Padang Saga, too will have water level drop without continuous natural inflow to the dam.”

Santiago pointed out that Air Itam, Bukit Merah and Sembrong Barat were smaller dams, and stored very little water.

He, however, said water supply dams in the central and southern peninsula remained above 80% capacity as of early February, adding that it should be enough to meet water demands for between three and six months.

In a notice yesterday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department also issued a Level One hot weather warning at five locations in northern states.

They are Padang Terap, Pokok Sena, Sik and Baling in Kedah and Kuala Kangsar in Perak.

A Level One or alert level heatwave warning is issued when daily temperatures range between 35ºC and 37ºC for at least three consecutive days.

On the possibility of prolonged droughts, Santiago said water supplies and water restrictions may be implemented to minimise disruptions.

“Emergency water assistance will be provided through water tankers to hotspots and critical premises,” he said.

Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said cloud seeding over the Air Itam dam had been requested given the increase in demand during the festive period.

“We are liaising with the state to carry out cloud seeding exercises,” he said.

The Air Itam dam serves some 170,000 residents in Air Itam, Paya Terubong, and the surrounding areas on the island.