GEORGE TOWN: Heavy rain in the past few days has contributed to a dramatic rise in the water level at the Air Itam Dam, reversing a worrying drop which began earlier this year that prompted the state water authority to sound the alarm this week.
After receiving total rainfall of 74mm in the last three days, the effective capacity of the Air Itam Dam increased from 66.2 per cent on Wednesday to 67.3 per cent today.
However, the effective capacity of the Teluk Bahang Dam, which received total rainfall of only 3mm, decreased from 78.6 per cent to 78.4 per cent during the same period.
Nevertheless, Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa stressed that water supply is adequate and that the situation is under control.
He said that concerns raised over the water supply earlier this week were intended as a reminder to consumers to use water sparingly during the dry season, which is expected to last for another month.
“The dry season is expected to last until the end of March.
“(However, our dams have enough water to supply) consumers, even if it doesn’t rain for 100 days,” he said.
On Tuesday, Jaseni had urged Penangites, especially residents of Air Itam, to reduce their daily water consumption with immediate effect, as the effective capacity of the Air Itam Dam had dropped considerably.
He said that due to the ongoing hot and dry weather, the effective capacity of the Air Itam Dam had dropped by 24.9 per cent in the period between Jan 1 and Feb 18 this year; while the effective capacity of the Teluk Bahang Dam increased by just 0.3 per cent during the same period.
The situation was compounded by low rainfall as of Tuesday, with rainfall gauges at the Air Itam Dam recording only 94mm of rain in the same period.
In comparison, the rainfall gauges at the Teluk Bahang Dam recorded 172.5 mm of rainfall since the start of the year.
“We have implemented dry weather water supply control measures to ensure water supply sustainability until the wet season arrives.
“(But) the people must play their roles to save water in support of Penang’s ‘no water rationing’ policy,” Jaseni added.