Penang's water supply company, PBAPP, announced that water supplies in the state will remain stable over the next two months, despite the hot and dry weather conditions affecting the region. This announcement was made by the company's CEO, Datuk K. Pathmanathan, who confirmed that the current reserves in the Muda and Perlis dams in Kedah are sufficient to support supplies during April and May.
Pathmanathan noted that the capacity of the Muda dam has dropped to a critical level of 7.19% as of March 28, meaning it can no longer release water into the Muda River after large quantities were drawn earlier this year for irrigation purposes. Meanwhile, the capacity of the Perlis dam, which has a total capacity of 122,400 million liters, has decreased from 100% on January 1 to 58.06% on March 28.
Event Details
From February 20 to March 28, the capacity of the Perlis dam decreased from 78.1% to 58.06% over 36 days, reflecting an average daily decline of 0.56% percent, equivalent to 685 million liters per day. Pathmanathan explained that the remaining reserves in the Perlis dam, amounting to 71,065 million liters, should be sufficient for 68 days until a critical level of 20% is reached by mid to late June.
Although Penang is not under immediate threat, the situation depends on avoiding further large withdrawals that could lead to the early depletion of the Perlis dam. The Muda River is the main source of raw water in Penang, from which PBAPP extracts about 1,000 million liters daily, supplying water to approximately 465,000 consumers in the state.
Background & Context
The water supply issue in Penang is part of a broader crisis related to climate change and its impacts on water resources in the region. Many areas in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, have experienced severe climate fluctuations leading to prolonged drought periods. These conditions require effective responses from local authorities to ensure the sustainability of water supplies.
In light of declining water levels in the Muda dam, PBAPP has activated its emergency plan for the Muda River for 2026, which includes increasing water extraction from the river, drawing water from the expanded Mengkuang dam, and maintaining water transfers to Penang Island. Pathmanathan confirmed that these measures help stabilize supplies, but they are not a complete solution, as the water treatment plant in Sungai Dua needs about 1,000 million liters of raw water daily.
Impact & Consequences
Managing water supplies in Penang requires special attention, as household consumption accounts for about 55.7% of the total water consumption in the state, which reached 865 million liters daily last year. Therefore, Pathmanathan urged consumers to use water wisely until the next rainy season arrives.
Concerns are growing about the impact of climate change on water resources, making it difficult to predict when the next rainy season will arrive that could recharge the main dams in Penang and Kedah to safe levels. This situation necessitates long-term strategies to ensure water sustainability in the region.
Regional Significance
Many Arab countries face similar challenges related to water supplies, suffering from water scarcity due to drought and climate change. Under these circumstances, it becomes essential to exchange experiences and technologies among countries to tackle these challenges. The lessons learned from Penang's experience can be beneficial for Arab countries seeking to improve their water resource management.
In conclusion, the situation in Penang remains under observation, as the sustainability of water supplies depends on effective management and cooperation among stakeholders. Awareness of the importance of using water wisely is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future.