GEORGE TOWN, May 16 — Faced with a possible lengthy dry spell from the El Niño phenomenon, Penang has instructed the state’s water utility to ensure sufficient reserves to avoid water rationing here.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that while the state had managed to avoid the water rationing that affected other parts of Malaysia, there was an increased risk with El Niño in the next six to 18 months
“The state government has directed Penang Water Supply Corporation(PBAPP) to adopt all water supply and water demand management measures, including increasing water tariffs, to avoid water rationing,” he said in a statement.
Lim also warned PBAPP that “heads will roll” if these measures to not fail to prevent water rationing,
El Niño refers to the occurrence of warm ocean temperatures in the South Pacific that can create extreme droughts and floods all over the world, including in Penang and Malaysia.
The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) has issued a caution over the possible arrival of the weather phenomenon and directed all states to make preparations.
Lim said PBAPP was also instructed to monitor the water levels in the state and to provide weekly reports on the effective reserves of its dams as well as Sungai Muda, Penang’s main source of raw water.
Currently, the effective water supply capacity for the dams are Air Itam Dam 74.6 per cent (73 days’ supply), Teluk Bahang Dam 64.4 per cent (196 days’ supply) and Mengkuang Dam 36.7 per cent (61 days’ supply).
The Mengkuang Dam’s capacity is lower due to an ongoing expansion project at the site.
Today, Lim also urged state residents to step up water conservation efforts.
“We need to restore our dam storage reserves from now so that we have enough in case of El Niño and we have to prolong our water reserves for as long as possible in the face of a potential six to 18 month drought,” he said.
