PBAPP draws on Mengkuang Dam Reserves as Sungai Muda levels drop

GEORGE TOWN: Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) is drawing down reserves from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) in Seberang Perai to sustain water supply across Penang, following a significant drop in Sungai Muda’s water level. For four consecutive days, the level of the PBAPP intake in Lahar Tiang, Seberang Perai, fell below the 2.0m "safe level".

The situation prompted PBAPP to commence drawing an average of 41 MLD from the EMD since 13 July 2024. “The maximum drawdown capacity of the EMB is 600 million litres per day (MLD),” said PBAPP CEO Ir. Pathmanathan K.

He added that raw water, abstracted from the EMD and Sungai Muda is channelled to the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP), the largest and most important WTP in Penang. This combined effort ensures sufficient water supply to serve approximately 465,000 consumers in Seberang Perai, Daerah Timur Laut (DTL), and Daerah Barat Daya (DBD) on Penang Island.

"The daily EMD drawdowns ensure that the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant continues to produce an average of 1,026.59 MLD of treated water,” he said.

Pathmanathan said that the effective capacity of the 160-billion-litre Muda Dam in Kedah, which supplies water to Sungai Muda, was reported at 25.7% as of 12 July 2024. He added that the Muda Dam is one of two dams in Kedah that releases water into Sungai Muda for use by Kedah and Penang.

He also said that the Beris Dam, which is the other key dam in Kedah, reported a level of 82.4% on 11 July 2024, with a maximum capacity of 120 billion litres.

"Kedah has the option to release more water from the Beris Dam to help maintain the Sungai Muda. This measure will avoid any major issues at 14 WTPs in Kedah and the Sungai Dua WTP in Penang.

On 14 July 2024, the effective capacity of the EMD was at 90.5%. While the current low levels of Sungai Muda do not pose an immediate threat to Penang's water supply, PBAPP remains on high alert, closely monitoring the river’s status as it is Penang’s primary raw water resource.

"We urge all water consumers in Penang to use water wisely," said Ir. Pathmanathan. "The Sungai Muda river level is low and the reserves of the Muda Dam have been depleted.”

For water-saving tips, please visit www.pba.com.my.

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