THE Penang Water Services Corporation (PBAPP) is looking to encourage consumers to save more water this year compared to last year in view of the emerging effects of climate change from prolonged drought to higher humidity.
It targets the domestic water per capital rate to be 250 litres per person daily compared to 261 litres, which PBAPP achieved last year.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he was informed of this by PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan.
Following its successful upgrade of 23 water-related infrastructure last week, PBAPP has now set it sights on conservation and reduction of water usage.
Chow said that the average water consumption rate in Penang is among the highest.
Now, consumers here use 308 litres per person, although last year, the usage rate was reduced to 261 litres.
The national average is 250 litres per person while in Singapore, it is only 150 litres.
He said this when marking the annual World Water Day celebrations at the Air Itam Dam.
Chow also revealed that the state government through PBAPP and the Madani Federal Government plans to invest up to RM4.4 billion to implement 13 water supply projects to meet anticipated demands.
This includes the water transfer scheme between neighbouring Perak and Penang.
Such investments would guarantee proper water supply until 2030, said Chow.
Chow also conveyed his gratitude to 11 water services operators who had helped PBAPP during the three-day scheduled water supply interruption last week.
The repair works went on as scheduled and were done ahead of the set time, allowing some 300,000 consumers access to pipe water earlier than anticipated.
The 11 operators, he singled out came from Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Sarawak (Sibu), Terengganu, Malacca, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Johor. - May 3, 2025.
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