GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) clarified today that the 30.3 per cent effective capacity of Air Itam Dam does not mean it is only enough to supply water for 30 days.
Its executive chief officer (CEO) K Pathmanathan (pix) said the estimate is confusing as there were vital qualifications for the time period, including ‘without rain’ and when there is rain in the Air Itam water catchment area, the days will change.
“The PBAPP is defending its existing reserves through the Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2024, and have a choice to tighten the water supply to stretch the remaining reserves of the dam for a longer time period, which may cause complications for certain consumers in Air Itam’s area of service,” he said in a statement today.
He explained that the AIDAP 2024 was implemented as a contingency measure when the effective capacity dropped to 32.8 per cent on Feb 5 due to the start of the El Nino effect, and that the contingency measure should convince water consumers in Air Itam that a 30.3 per cent effective dam capacity was not cause to panic.
He also informed that water supply services were still normal in the AIr Itam service area even though PBAPP has no way of knowing when the current hot and dry season will end, so he urged consumers, especially in Air Itam, to reduce water usage by 10 per cent during April, May and June.
