COVER FEATURE
MANAGING CHALLENGES
IN THE MENGKUANG DAM
EXPANSION PROJECT
By Ir. Khor Chai Huat and Ir. Lai Kim Fui, Angkasa Consulting Services Sdn Bhd
Tuan Hj. Ir. Noor Azahari Zainal Abidin, Jabatan Bekalan Air, KeTTHA
The Mengkuang Dam
Expansion
Project
–
Construction of the Dam and
Associated Works Stage 1
– completed in July 2015 in
Penang, features a 45m high
and 2km long embankment
dam and raising the height
of the existing 1km long
embankment by 11m. The
challenges in managing risks
associated with construction
of a new dam adjacent the
existing dam, impact of
existing quarry operation,
shortage of construction
materials and other major
issues required effective
solutions.
T
he construction
and
associated works (contract
value of RM 607million)
under the E xpansion of
Mengkuang Dam Project is a
large scale project. The project
will increase the reservoir’s
active storage from 22 to 73.5
million m3 and increased the
raw water supply capacity from
350 to 650 million litre per day.
This water source development
project is vital for the economic
development of Penang State.
The project is located in
District of Seberang Perai
Figure 1: Location Plan
Tengah, Pulau Pinang and about
40km east of Butterworth
and approximately 8km from
Bukit Mertajam. The existing
Mengkuang Dam which
forms part of the Mengkuang
Pumped Storage Scheme was
commissioned in 1985. The
existing earthfill dam is about
1 km long and 31m high (see
Figure 2). The existing dam crest
will be raised by 11m in height.
A new dam 2km in length
and about 45 m high will be
constructed at the left valley.
The new dam under the
Stage 1 works was a zoned
earthfill dam as illustrated in
Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the
new dam completed on 31st July
2015. The draw- off tower
located near the left abutment
of the dam and valve house
downstream of the draw-off
tunnel is shown in Figures 5 and
6 respectively.
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