No water shortage yet in Penang - Lim Guan Eng

The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and the Penang government confirms that PBAPP is ready to face the dry weather.

Its Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the dry spell is not an unusual phenomenon.

"It is an annual occurrence and expect the dry weather to last until April when the inter-monsoon season starts," he said.

The water corporation also assures the water levels at its dams are at maximum capacity since the beginning of January.

The water levels at the Air Itam Dam is at 71 percent capacity and is sufficient for 70 days of supply, the Mengkuang Dam is at 50.5 percent capacity which is sufficient for 84 days of supply while the Teluk Bahang Dam is at 91 percent capacity which is sufficient for 277 days of water supply.

However only the water levels at the Air Itam Dam are dropping fast and PBAPP is doing all it can to maintain its reserve capacity to last for another 90 days by bringing in more water from Seberang Perai.

If no rain falls in the catchment area within 30 days, the water level at the Air Itam Dam level will reach 40 percent capacity which will only last for another 43 days.

At this critical stage, PBAPP will impose water rationing in Penang to cater for the daily basic needs of consumers.

Nevertheless, PBAPP cautions consumers against wasting water and refrain from unnecessary activities such as washing cars.

PBAPP will also impose a Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) aimed at penalizing consumers who waste water.

Penang recorded the highest water consumption rate in the country for 2013 at 299 liters per person per day as compared to the national average of 215.