GEORGE TOWN – Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) has come up with an innovative way to refill the island’s main dam – by drawing excess rainwater from water catchment areas in the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt.
The dam, in Teluk Bahang, has seen low levels for more than a year due to drought blamed on climate change.
“(The rainwater) is channelled by gravity (to) flow towards the dam via an existing tunnel,” said PBAPP chief executive Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa in a statement.
“The dam is now being fed water from the Teluk Bahang water catchment area, Sg Pinang water catchment area and Batu Ferringhi water catchment area.”
The dam recorded a capacity of 69% in 2017, 2018 and last year, but two days ago, the level was only 35.5%.
PBAPP is targeting a capacity of 45% by year-end, ahead of the dry season in January.
Refilling the dam, which was commissioned in 1999, will ensure uninterrupted water supply to about 38,000 accounts in the island’s northern tourism belt.
PBAPP reiterates the importance of cloud seeding to induce maximum rainfall, said Jaseni.
He called on the public to use water wisely to complement efforts to refill the dam. – The Vibes, November 5, 2020
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