Air Itam Dam capacity up 10pc

KUALA LUMPUR: The storm that lashed Penang in the last few days resulted in 320mm of rainfall being recorded at the Air Itam Dam, the highest to date.

Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said the new rainfall record exceeded the previous record of 270mm on Sept 15.

“In the history of PBAPP, there has been no previous case of a storm generating such an impact in just 24 hours.

“The Air Itam Dam capacity shot up by 10 per cent overnight, with landslides along Jalan Empangan Air Itam,” he said.

He added that Jalan Empangan Air Itam had since been temporarily closed for public safety.

Jaseni said the heavy rainfall also affected other water supply installations in the state, including the Waterfall, Guillemard and Sungai Pinang Water Treatment Plants.

“Due to this, there was an unscheduled water supply disruption that affected residents in the Jesselton, Pulau Tikus and Jalan Air Terjun areas for a few hours on Sunday.

“PBAPP had pumped more water from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to the affected areas.”

Consumers experiencing water supply issues can call the PBAPP 24-hour call centre at 04-255- 8255.