Supplier tells Penang consumers ‘use less water immediately’

GEORGE TOWN – Penang needs a second round of cloud seeding to make rain, said Penang Water Supply Corp (PBAPP) chief executive K. Pathmanathan.

He also appealed to consumers to use less water with immediate effect, saying dams on the island continue to suffer from low capacity despite some rainfall from a major cloud-seeding exercise recently.

“Please use less water immediately,” he said in a statement. “All Penang domestic water consumers, especially consumers in Air Itam and Paya Terubong, must reduce water consumption immediately.” 

PBAPP is recommending a second round of cloud seeding as raw water reserves at the island’s two dams are still below 50%.

The first wave of cloud seeding this year was carried out for a week from April 29, with the support and assistance of the National Disaster Management Agency, air force, Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), and Penang Water Regulatory Body.

Over the three days of seeding, 8.5mm of rainfall was recorded in the Air Itam Dam water catchment area; and 19.5mm of rainfall in the Teluk Bahang Dam.

However, much more rain is required to replenish the dams, Pathmanathan said.

According to MetMalaysia’s projections on the El Niño Southern Oscillation outlook, a hot and dry El Niño is expected this year with the transition to this phase occurring around May to July.

Penang island has been experiencing low rainfall since January while dealing with high water consumption – with domestic usage accounting for 61.6% of total consumption in the state last year.

Last year, PBAPP supplied 868 million ℓ of treated water per day (MLD) in Penang, the highest average volume per day for a year in the water authority’s history.

This record, however, was broken in January this year with an average supply of 875MLD, and surpassed again in February with 944MLD, indicating a worsening dry spell and water shortage.

Pathmanathan urged consumers not to use a hose when watering their gardens or to wash their vehicles, and to use a bucket system instead to save water.

Consumers should also follow simple steps like not leaving the tap running when not in use, he added.

He said PBAPP was very concerned about avoiding a complete depletion of reserves in the Air Itam Dam, and needed the support of Penang’s consumers. – The Vibes, May 8, 2023