Penang targets cut in daily water use to 250 litres per person amid climate-driven supply concerns
GEORGE TOWN, May 3 — Penang is targeting a reduction in domestic water consumption to 250 litres per capita per day (LPCD) this year, an 11-litre decrease from the 261 litres recorded last year.
Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer, Datuk K. Pathmanathan, said that while the target may appear modest, it could yield significant long-term benefits in terms of water supply sufficiency and security.
'If all 1.8 million Penang residents reduce their household water use by 11 LPCD, the cumulative savings could reach 19.8 million litres per day (MLD) this year,' he said during the World Water Day celebration at the Air Itam Dam today.
The event was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and attended by Water Watch Penang president, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Chan Ngai Weng.
Pathmanathan added that the projected domestic savings are expected to contribute to an estimated 2.3 percent reduction in Penang's overall water consumption, from 870 MLD last year to approximately 850 MLD this year.
Saying domestic water use accounted for approximately 54 percent of total water consumption last year, he encouraged Penangites to use water more efficiently to help stabilise supply and reduce service disruptions in end-of-line distribution areas and highland zones in Seberang Perai Selatan and the Barat Daya District.
Meanwhile, Pathmanathan noted that climate change has also impacted operations, with the effective capacities of the Teluk Bahang and Air Itam dams decreasing by 13.1 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively, due to low rainfall since January.
He explained that although both dams are designed to be replenished by rainwater within their catchment areas, the significant reduction in rainfall, coupled with prolonged El Niño conditions, has hampered their recovery in recent years.
In contrast, he said the Expanded Mengkuang Dam was specifically designed to be replenished primarily through water pumped from Sungai Kulim.
'We are currently implementing projects worth over RM1 billion under the Water Contingency Plan 2030 to ensure sufficient capacity for Penang by 2030.
'We therefore urge domestic users to conserve water to help reduce the state's water supply risks up to 2030, ensuring fair and equitable distribution while supporting the Penang2030 vision,' he said. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
3 days ago
- Rakyat Post
Scorching Heat And Unpredictable Rain: Is Malaysia's Monsoon Season Shifting?
Subscribe to our FREE The weather used to be a topic for small talk or as an ice-breaker, but in recent times, it is becoming a serious topic of discussion among experts and the meteorological industry. In the past week, Malaysia has seen more and more headlines about the hot weather engulfing the nation, and it might have something to do with shifting rainfall patterns and the monsoon season. The Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) recently announced that six areas in the peninsula are now at level 1 (caution) for three consecutive days due to the ongoing hot weather. Meanwhile, the east coast region of the peninsula experienced some of the worst floods in its history during the 2024 year end monsoon season. A few western areas of the peninsula such as the Klang Valley and Perak were also hit by random flash floods during this period. READ MORE: READ MORE: Is climate change shifting rain patterns and temperatures in Malaysia? An article by Amanda Yeo, Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Apex Noble Sdn Bhd with expertise in public policy and Environmental, Social, and Governmental (ESG) frameworks, highlights She illustrates how in previous decades, Malaysia typically experiences heavy rainfall during the year-end monsoon season but this has changed in recent months, leading to heavier rainfall almost every day. Abnormally heavy rainfall in December 2024 flooded this area in Tunjong, Kelantan. Image: BuzzKini 'The increase in sea surface temperatures – combined with the effects of La Niña, has enhanced atmospheric moisture and contributed to more intense and unpredictable rainfall across Malaysia and other ASEAN countries,' Amanda explained. Referring to the year-end monsoon season in 2024, Amanda said that Malaysia experienced a significantly higher volume of rainfall than usual. According to her, Malaysia receives 3,085.5mm of precipitation annually (about 8.4mm per day), but on 9 December 2024, the Kerteh meteorological station in Terengganu recorded 364mm of rain in a single day. Meanwhile in East Malaysia, the Mulu meteorological station in Sarawak reported a daily total of 108.2mm on 17 December 2024. El Niño is a big contributor to the unbearable heat in Malaysia right now El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that According to a 2024 report by scientific journal Image: X | MetMalaysia Image: X | MetMalaysia On top of this, Malaysia is currently going through the Conversely, the northeast monsoon from November to March is the one that brings heavy rainfall, especially to the east coast states of Peninsula Malaysia like Kelantan and Terengganu. In terms of timing, the monsoon transition phases have shown variability. For example, the transition from the northeast monsoon began on 25 March, 2025, and continued until May, underscoring a delayed onset of the southwest monsoon and extended duration of the northeast monsoon. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Penang water supply stable despite heatwave, PBAPP urges prudent usage
GEORGE TOWN: Penang's water supply remains stable despite sweltering heat conditions affecting several northern states, including neighbouring Kedah and Perak, with dam levels in the state reported to be at satisfactory levels. Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan told the 'New Straits Times' that that all three major dams in Penang — Air Itam, Teluk Bahang and Mengkuang — are operating within safe and sustainable limits. "To date, the Air Itam Dam stands at 62 per cent effective capacity, which can support water supply for around 60 days, while the Teluk Bahang Dam is at 51.7 per cent, sufficient for 157 days. "As for the Mengkuang Dam — our largest reservoir — it is at a strong 91.3 per cent capacity, which can last about 131 days," he said. Despite the reassuring figures, Pathmanathan stressed the importance of continued water conservation, particularly in light of rising temperatures and dry spells in nearby regions. "We are actively implementing the Air Itam Dam Action Plan 2025, and are closely monitoring rainfall and weather conditions at all catchment areas. "However, prudent water usage by all consumers is crucial to ensure sustainability," he added. Penang has so far avoided the Level 1 heatwave alert status triggered in districts such as Bandar Baharu (Kedah), Kuala Kangsar and Perak Tengah (Perak), and Machang (Kelantan), where maximum daily temperatures have reached up to 37°C for three consecutive days. Pathmanathan said PBAPP is working with relevant authorities to manage demand and ensure uninterrupted supply throughout the state. He said consumers are urged to report any water leakages or broken pipes to the PBAPP call centre at 04-255 8255. "Everyone has a role to play. Saving water today means securing supply for tomorrow."
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Highways baking at 70 deg Celsius signal a red-hot summer from China to the US
SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Bloomberg): In northern China, road surfaces have soared to 158 Ferenheit (70 degrees Celsius). In California's Central Valley, temperatures are reaching into the triple digits Fahrenheit. Across much of Spain, the mercury has risen so high that it's prompting warnings for tourists. Weeks before the official start of the Northern Hemisphere's summer, signs are emerging that the coming months will be blistering in North America, Europe and Asia. There's even a chance that the season could shatter global high-temperature records, said Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. The scorching conditions threaten to tax power grids, wilt crops and send energy prices soaring across three continents. Hot, dry weather is also elevating the risk of wildfires, with blazes already erupting in Alberta, the epicenter of Canada's oil industry. The human and economic consequences are dire: Extreme heat is expected to inflict about US$200 billion in annual losses in the US alone by 2030, a number that will more than double by 2050, according to one estimate. All three northern continents face sweltering temperatures fueled by climate change - particularly the western and central US and Canada, as well as western and northern Europe, Swain said. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, these regions will also see areas of intense rain and flooding, he said. "I'd expect to see further instances of extreme to record-shattering downpours and flood events in regions prone to heavy precipitation during the warm season,' Swain said. In the Atlantic, the heat is raising ocean temperatures, boosting the odds of an unusually active hurricane season. The absence of El Niño, a warming of the equatorial Pacific that can cause storm-wrecking wind conditions across the Atlantic, also means more hurricanes and tropical storms may develop and grow in the Atlantic and Caribbean, including oil- and gas-producing areas along the US Gulf Coast. From 1980 to 2024, tropical storms and hurricanes caused more than $1.5 trillion worth of damage and killed at least 7,211 people in the US, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Due to kinks in the summer jet stream, there is a rising chance of derechos - wide arcs of severe thunderstorms that can travel hundreds of miles and cause billions of dollars in damage - across the Midwest and northern Plains, said Paul Pastelok, lead US long-range forecaster at AccuWeather Inc. This turmoil across the continent may also leave the Gulf Coast, particularly Texas, vulnerable to more hurricane strikes. The sizzling weather will increase energy demand. About 89 million people across three grids spanning parts of the central US are at elevated risk of power supply shortfalls this summer, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. Power prices across the grid stretching from Chicago to the Mid-Atlantic are likely to rise with sustained heat because of low coal stockpiles, Bank of America analysts led by Francisco Blanch wrote in a note to clients. New England power is also vulnerable to spikes, the analysts said. US natural gas price gains have been muted so far despite the prospect of hot weather and rising exports of the power-plant fuel to Europe and Asia. But the chances of gas reaching $4.60 per million British thermal units this year - a jump of more than 30% from current levels - are rising as the heat could limit stockpile increases, leaving the market primed for a rally before winter heating demand kicks in, according to analysts with RBC Capital markets led by Christopher Louney. Extreme heat also threatens to wither crops and shrivel rivers, raising food prices as the cost of goods and services remains elevated. Drought has been intensifying in areas of the US where soy, corn or wheat is grown. If the parched conditions persist, water levels on the Mississippi River could drop, roiling barge traffic that's crucial to transporting crops across the country. Dry Europe Across Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, little rainfall and early drying has set the stage for intense heat waves, droughts and dangerous wildfire conditions, commercial meteorologists and government forecasters say. Forecast models favor high-pressure weather patterns emerging and enduring this summer, similar to ones that plagued the continent during the first few months of the year. Those patterns suppressed wind speeds and cloud cover, leading to low wind generation and record solar power in Europe - a scenario likely to repeat this summer, according to Atmospheric G2. The high pressure is also likely to block North Atlantic ocean moisture, boosting the risk of heat waves and worsening drought, said Andrew Pedrini, a meteorologist with the weather analytics firm. "I personally fear that we will hear a lot about extremes this summer,' he said. In Portugal and Spain last week, one of the hottest air masses in more than three decades pushed in from Africa, sending temperatures above 100F. The heat comes after an April 28 blackout left the Iberian Peninsula without electricity for hours, hitting public transport, telecommunications systems and other services. With high pressure isolating regions from the cooling effect of moist westerly winds, temperatures in central and southern Europe could climb especially high. While that pattern is expected to reduce the chances of rain, rising heat could supercharge storms that do manage to form with torrential rain and damaging hail. Though water levels on the Rhine River have improved after rains in recent weeks, a recurrence of drought could upend a crucial trade route and send barge rates soaring. Long-term forecast models show conditions could support heavy rain in western Norway and the northern UK from June through August, according to data from Europe's Copernicus satellite program. Asia Outlook In Asia, Japan will likely have a warmer-than-normal summer, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. South-East Asia will also be hotter than average, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre said. China, with the exception of some far northern areas, is expected to bake this June as well, the China Meteorological Administration said. Drought in the northern part of the country has hit the wheat crop during a key growth period, threatening output of a staple food grain just as Beijing remains entangled in a trade war with the US, a major agricultural products supplier. Though rains are forecast in the region, providing some relief to the parched farm fields, the quick swing from dry to wet raises the risk of floods, landslides and crop damage. Already, intense heat in parts of China has sent asphalt temperatures surging. The National Energy Administration expects peak electricity demand to be about 100 gigawatts higher this summer than last year, the equivalent of needing to turn on all the power plants in the UK at once. Across the Northern Hemisphere, the extreme heat is a reflection of how much warmer the Earth is compared with a few decades ago, Swain said. Since 1959, Europe in particular, but parts of the Pacific Northwest, northeastern Canada, as well as parts of Mexico, Africa and the Middle East have seen a marked increase in summer heat. "An increase in heat extremes is the most obvious symptom of climate change,' said Karen McKinnon, a professor who studies the statistics behind climate change at UCLA. "Even seemingly small changes in temperatures of a few degrees can make summers feel substantially more extreme.' --With assistance from Dan Murtaugh, Naureen S Malik and Hallie Gu. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
