GEORGE TOWN: With raw water reserves at the Teluk Bahang Dam at dangerous level and Air Itam Dam at warning level, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) has again appealed to the federal government to conduct cloud seeding.

PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan also urged the people of Penang to reduce water usage for at least another month, until the rainy season begins.

"We are appealing to the federal government to conduct cloud seeding to increase water levels at both dams.

"Penang, through Badan Kawal Selia Air (BKSA) had written to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) twice for cloud seeding to be conducted but has yet to hear back from them.

"We hope that this can be approved soon," he told the New Straits Times.

Padmanathan also appealed to the people not to waste water for the next one month until the rainy season.

"This is to avoid from any potential water crisis," he added.

Nadma had said raw water reserves at three dams, including the Teluk Bahang dam, was at a dangerous level.

It also said that five other dams, including the Air Itam dam, had their water reserves at a warning level.

The water level at the Teluk Bahang dam was 27.6 per cent while Air Itam dam 31.8 per cent today.

A reading of 29.99 per cent and below indicates a dangerous level, 30 per cent to 59.99 per cent is the warning level and 60 per cent and above is normal).

Earlier this month, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state, Penang, through BKSA, had written to Nadma twice for cloud seeding to be conducted to fill the two dams on the island.

He said the state has yet to receive any response from Nadma.

The prolonged dry spell had resulted in the water level of both dams to dwindle.

However, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the recent cloud seeding operations in Kedah would help Penang's situation. 

From January to June, the average water consumption in Penang was 887 million litres per day (MLD), compared to the corresponding period last year, of 877 MLD.

Water consumption in Penang had increased by an average of 10 MLD year-on-year.  (10 MLD refers to a volume of water that may fill 6,667 1.5 litre drinking water bottles every day).

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1088029/pbapp-appeals-federal-government-cloud-seeding-fill-islands-dams