ENOUGH WATER FOR PENANG STATE HIGH DEMAND DURING THIS DRY SEASON. NO NEED FOR WATER RATIONING NOW

Press Statement by Chairman of PBAPP, YAB Lim Guan Eng
in Komtar, George Town, Penang on 20/2/2014

ENOUGH WATER FOR PENANG STATE HIGH DEMAND DURING THIS DRY SEASON. NO NEED FOR WATER RATIONING NOW.

From the information provided by the management of Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), the Penang State Government informs Penang consumers that PBAPP is ready to face the dry weather. Every year we ensure that the water levels in the dams are at the maximum level at beginning of January. In fact, the dry spell is not an unusual phenomenon as it is an annual occurrence and expects the dry weather to last until April when the inter-monsoon season starts.

The water level at the Air Itam Dam is at 71% capacity and sufficient for 70 days of supply, Mengkuang Dam is at 50.5% capacity and sufficient for 84 days of supply while Teluk Bahang Dam is at 91% capacity which is sufficient for 277 days of supply. There is no need for water rationing now.

Of the three (3) dams, only Air Itam Dam is dropping fast and PBAPP is doing all it can to maintain the reserve capacity to last for another 90 days by bringing in more water from Seberang Perai. However, it cautions the consumers to not waste water for washing cars and gardening or hosing of the house gardens. If no rain falls in the catchment area within 30 days, Air Itam Dam level will reach 40% capacity which will only last for another 43 days. At this critical stage, PBAPP will impose water rationing in the Penang Island to cater for the daily basic needs of the consumers.

Penang consumers are advised to be careful and not to waste water. To avoid water wastage, the PBAPP has imposed a Water Conservation Surcharge (WCS) to penalize consumers who waste water. Unfortunately, Penang records the highest water consumption in the country for 2013 at 299 liters per person per day as compared to the national average of 215.

LIM GUAN ENG

— CN Version —

槟城供水机构主席林冠英于2014年2月20日在乔治市光大发表的文告:

槟城州内在干旱季节拥有足够用水,无须制水。

根据槟州供水机构管理层的资料显示,槟城州政府向槟城消费者保证供水机构已经在旱季做好准备。每年1月初始我们都会确保水坝的水位位于最高水平。事实上,这旱季并不是不寻常的现象,而是每年都会重复发生,预料这干旱气候将会持续至4月的季后风来临为止。

目前亚依淡水坝的水位是位于71%的水量,足以供应70天;孟光水坝水位是位于50.5%水量,可供应84天;至于直落巴巷水坝则拥有91%水量,足以供应277天之久。目前并不需要制水。

在这三个水坝当中,只有亚依淡水坝的水位面对急速下降的问题。目前,槟州供水机构正竭尽全力,从威省引进水源,以保持未来90天的储水能力。然而,我们谨此告诫消费者,莫把水源浪费在洗车或以水管在庭院浇花。若在30天内,聚水区尚没有下雨的话,亚依淡水坝的水位将会达到仅有 40%容量,也即是只能够支撑接下来43 天的用水量。到了这关键时刻,槟州供水机构将会在槟岛实施制水,以应付消费者的日常基本需求。

槟州所有消费者受促莫浪费珍贵的水源。为了避免任何的水资源浪费,槟州供水机构经已实施了水源附加费(WCS),以惩罚那些浪费水源的用户。很遗憾的是,槟城依然在2013年,创下全国用水量最高的记录,每日人均用水量高达299 公升,而全国的人均用水量仅为215公升。

林冠英