PBAPP Closely Monitoring Water Turbidity At Sungai Muda

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) is ready to activate its emergency response plan (ERP) following notifications of rising murky water levels in Sungai Muda affecting several water treatment plants (WTPs) in Kedah.

PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said at 10.00 am today, the turbidity level of raw water abstracted by PBAPP at the Lahar Tiang Intake in Seberang Perai stood at 309.37 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units).

“If the turbidity reading reaches 1,000 NTU at Lahar Tiang today or tomorrow, PBAPP will reduce abstraction of raw water from Sungai Muda at Lahar Tiang and pumping of Sungai Muda raw water into the Sungai Dua Canal, as well as draw down water from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD) for discharge into the Sungai Dua Canal.

“Mixing the raw water from Sungai Muda with raw water from the EMD will lower the turbidity level of raw water entering into the Sungai Dua WTP. The volume of raw water drawn down from the EMD may be adjusted accordingly,” he said in a statement today.

Pathmanathan said that the two measures were implemented to avoid a shutdown of the Sungai Dua WTP, which could safely process raw water with a turbidity level of up to 1,000 NTU.

According to him, if the turbidity level of the raw water entering the Sungai Dua WTP exceeded 1,000 NTU, PBAPP would be unable to produce and supply potable water that is safe for public consumption.

The Sungai Dua WTP produces more than 1,000 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water for supply to 465,000 water consumers in Seberang Perai and the Northeast and Southwest districts on the island.

Pathmanathan said that PBAPP water supply engineering personnel were closely monitoring the turbidity readings of raw water from Sungai Muda and would take immediate action if needed.

“PBAPP will post updates on the NTU readings at Lahar Tiang on its Facebook page to keep Penang water consumers updated,” he said.

--BERNAMA