Press Statement by Y.A.B. TUAN LIM GUAN ENG Chief Minister of Penang and Chairman of Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd.
PENANG WILL NOT IMPLEMENT WATER RATIONING FOR APRIL BUT IMPLEMENT CONTINGENCY PLANS TO AVOID FUTURE WATER RATIONING IF DRY SEASON CONTINUES.
PENANG, 2/4/2014: The efficient water supply management implemented by Penang Water Supply Corporation or PBAPP has allowed Penang to avoid water rationing in April 2014. If April 2014 proves to be another dry month, the Penang State Government and Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) will implement a contingency action plan to avoid water rationing by further upgrading our existing efficient water supply management and implementing water demand management measures.
Amongst the water supply management includes:-
1. The Penang State Government will request the Federal Government to initiate cloud seeding to create rainfall in the Muda Catchments to sustain the level of Sungai Muda;
2. The Penang State Government will inform the Water Supply Department (Jabatan Bekalan Air) of the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) to request Kedah to release water into the Sungai Muda to sustain a sufficient level for PBAPP to continue drawing water for water supply in Penang. KeTTHA had provided a written guarantee that water will be released from Kedah into the Sungai Muda whenever there is a shortfall, during the construction and defects liability period of the Mengkuang Dam expansion project. The costs of Kedah releasing water into the Sungai Muda, if any, would be borne by the KeTTHA.
SUNGAI MUDA & DAMS STATUS UPDATE
The most critical factor is the levels of Sungai Muda, from which PBAPP extracts more than 80% of Penang’s raw water needs daily.
As of yesterday, the recorded level of the river was 2.69 meters, which is still above the 2.0 meter “Alert Level”. PBAPP continues to draw water from this river today.
Secondly, the effective water capacities for Penang’s three main dams, which serve as strategic drought reserves at 2nd April as compared to [28th March 2014], are as follows:
Dam Effective capacity (%) Duration of supply (days)
Teluk Bahang 76.5 [77.5] 233 [236]
Air Itam 65.2 [65.2] 63 [64]
Mengkuang 38.4[38.6] 64 [64]
The Penang State Government and PBAPP will appeal to the people of Penang to urgently conserve water at all costs to prolong dam storage reserves.
CONSERVE WATER NOW
There is a need to implement effective and efficient water demand management. Water consumption in Penang was the highest in Malaysia at 295 litres per capita per day (l/c/d) in 2013. For the first two months in 2014, the figure further increased by 5.4% to 311 l/c/d. This is 46.7% more than the national average of 212 l/c/d.
The state government is concerned that as a result of climate change, the drought we are facing now may not only persist this year but more worryingly may continue over the next few years. As such it is imperative that effective water demand management must be in force.
So far measures by the state government and PBAPP to reduce water demand management has not been successful whether through education or implementing Water Conservation Surcharge to impose penalties for water wastage. As such the Penang state EXCO has decided in our meeting this morning that whilst we will not impose water rationing for April 2014,we accept PBAPP’s management’s request to actively study increasing water tariffs to reduce water consumption.
In the meantime, we urge Penangites to conserve water and support the drive to avoid water rationing in Penang. Until the wet season arrives and Penang’s raw water situation has stabilised, the public should use water wisely as follows:
1. Avoid using a hose as far as possible. Using a hose wastes water.
2. Wash your car or motorcycle less often. Avoid using a hose. Instead, use a bucket and a damp cloth or sponge to clean your vehicle.
3. Water your plants with a watering can. Avoid using a hose.
4. Sweep your porch or driveway. Avoid using a hose.
5. Fix all leaking taps, pipes or toilet systems immediately.
6. Do not leave any taps running in your home or office.
7. Teach your children to shut taps properly.
8. Use your washing machine only when you have a full load.
9. If you wash clothes by hand, do not leave the tap running. Turn it on only when you rinse.
10. Fill and plug your sink when washing/rinsing food, dishes and cutlery.
11. Mop the floor instead of using a hose or splashing water from a bucket.
12. Turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth. Turn it on only when it is time to rinse your mouth.
13. Turn off the tap while soaping your hands. Turn it on only when it is time to rinse.
14. Take shorter showers.
15. Turn off the shower when you are soaping your body.
16. Install “double-flush” systems in your toilet. Usually, a “half-flush” does the job.
17. Avoid flushing rubbish down the toilet. Put rubbish in the rubbish bin.
18. Call 04 509 6 509 to report leaks at roadside mains or pipes immediately. The PBAPP Call Centre operates 24 hours a day.
LIM GUAN ENG
Contact : Puan Syarifah Nasywa bt Syed Feisal Barakbah
Corporate Communications Unit
Tel : 04-201 3231
Email : [email protected]
—–Mandarin Version —-
槟州首席部长兼槟州水供机构主席林冠英于2014年4月2日是在槟州发表声明：
槟城将不会在四月实施制水，但是，我们会推行紧急计划，以避免未来旱季持续时需实施配水
由于槟州水供机构（PABPP）在水供方面管理有方，槟城不必在2014年4月制水。如果2014年4月还是旱季，槟州政府及槟州水供机构将推行一项紧急计划，以避免未来旱季时需实施配水，我们将提升现有的有效水务管理并推行水需求管理措施。
上述水供管理措施包括：
1. 槟州政府将会要求联邦政府在慕达储水区进行人工造雨，以维持慕达河的水位。
2. 槟州政府将会通过能源、绿色科技及水源部的水供局，要求吉打放水进入慕达河，以维持足够的水位让槟城供水机构可以继续为槟城提供水源。能源、绿色科技及水源部已经以书面保证，在孟光水坝建造或进行中，只要慕达河缺水，水源将会从吉打释放进入慕达河，如果有任何费用将会由能源、绿色科技及水源部承担。
慕达河及水坝概况更新
目前情况最危急的是慕达河的水位，槟城每天的生水供应80%来自慕达河。
昨天，河流水位为2.69公尺，还在2公尺的警惕线。槟州水供机构将继续从这条河里抽水。
其二，比起2014年3月28日，截至4月2日槟城三个水坝的有效水储量如下：
水坝 有效储水量 (%) 供应期 (日)
直落巴巷 76.5 [77.5] 233 [236]
亚依淡 65.2 [65.2] 63 [64]
孟光水坝 38.4[38.6] 64 [64]
槟州政府及槟城水供机构将会要求槟州人民节约用水，以延长水坝的储水量。
现在就节约用水
我们有需要推行有效力及有效率的水供管理。2013年，槟城的每日人均用水量达295公升。在2014年首两个月，每日人均用水量增加5.4%至311公升。比起全国每日人均用水量212公升增加46.7%。
州政府担心由于气候变化，我们现在变对的旱季不只发生在今年，而是持续好几年。因此我们认为推行有效的水需求管理是非常重要的。
目前州政府及水供机构的减少水需求管理不太成功，无论是通过教育还是实施附加费以惩罚浪费水的人。槟州行政议会已经在今早决定我们不会在2014年4月进行配水，我们接受槟州水供机构的管理需求，积极地研究调高水费以减少水的消费。
同时，我们促请全体槟城人民保护水源，支持避免制水的举措。直到雨季到来及槟城的生水情况稳定下来，公众应该节约用水如下：
1. 尽量不要用软水管，软水管浪费水。
2. 减少清洗汽车或电单车。避免使用软水管，反之，使用水桶或抹布或海绵来清洗汽车。
3. 以喷壶浇花，避免使用软水管。
4. 清扫走廊或车道，避免使用软水管。
5. 马上修复所有漏水的水龙头，水管及厕所系统。
6. 锁紧所有家居或办公室的水龙头。
7. 教导孩子锁紧水龙头。
8. 在盛满衣服时才使用洗衣机。
9. 如果你用手洗衣，不要让水龙头的水流动。轻洗时才开水龙头。
10. 洗碗碟、食物时将水槽盛满水才清洗。
11. 洗地时抹擦地面，而不是使用软水管或从桶内溅水。
12. 刷牙时关上水龙头，漱口时才开水。
13. 双手涂肥皂时关上水龙头，洗手时才开水。
14. 冲凉时间短一点。
15. 冲凉涂擦肥皂时关掉花洒。
16. 在厕所按装“双冲按纽”系统，通常，“冲半水”就可以了。
17. 别将垃圾冲入厕所内。把垃圾丢入垃圾桶内。
18. 如遇街边水管爆裂，马上致电 04 509 6 509 。 槟州水供机构热线工作24小时。
林冠英
Contact : Puan Syarifah Nasywa bt Syed Feisal Barakbah
Corporate Communications Unit
Tel : 04-201 3231
Email : [email protected]