Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the water reserves in the dam were currently depleting but had to last until the next rainy season, expected in September.

“This year, the effective capacity of the Air Itam dam decreased by 41.4% in a period of 129 days, from Jan 1 to May 9.

“Currently it has an effective capacity (reserve) of 41.1%, which has the potential to last for 120 days until the expected rainy season in September.

“The meteorological department has issued a statement announcing that the drier southwest monsoon season will begin tomorrow.

“Hopefully, there will be some rain in the Air Itam dam catchment area to stretch the dam’s reserves until September,” he said today.

Chow said PBAPP hoped to maintain a constant water supply to consumers in Air Itam.

Chow, who is also chairman of PBAPP, said they had done a good job in reducing the water supply coverage area at the dam to cover only 6,000 premises in Air Itam.

He said this meant that in May, only about 6,000 premises depended on the treated water produced in Air Itam itself, compared with about 29,000 during normal times.

“This adaptation was done through the strategic pumping of more treated water from the Sungai Dua water treatment plant to reach consumers living in the Air Itam area.

“The reduction in supply coverage area has enabled PBAPP to significantly minimise the discharge from the Air Itam dam.”

He said since Jan 1, PBAPP had also implemented other dry weather control engineering measures to minimise drawdown from the dam to conserve water.

Chow said PBAPP had the option of continuing to tighten its dry weather control engineering measures. However, tighter controls may affect the water supply.

“We do not want to make it difficult for the public and businesses.

“Therefore, PBAPP will only implement stricter control measures in Penang when it becomes absolutely necessary. We will inform the public in advance,” he said.