Mengkuang Dam

Mengkuang Dam
Location of Mengkuang Dam in Penang
Official nameEmpangan Mengkuang
CountryMalaysia
LocationSeberang Perai
Coordinates5°23′38.63″N 100°30′21.53″E / 5.3940639°N 100.5059806°E / 5.3940639; 100.5059806
Construction began1982
Opening dateDecember 14, 1985
Owner(s)Penang state government
Operator(s)Penang Water Supply Corporation
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsMengkuang River
Height24.7 m (81 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity23,600,000 m3 (830,000,000 cu ft)
Catchment area3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)

Mengkuang Dam is a dam in Central Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia. It is the only dam situated in Seberang Perai (Penang Mainland) and the second dam built in Penang after Ayer Itam dam. It was officially opened by the former governor, Dr. Tun Awang bin Hassan in 1985. It has the water catchment area of 3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi) and a gross storage capacity of 23.6 billion litres (5.2×109 imp gal; 6.2×109 US gal), making it the largest dam in Penang, almost 10 times the capacity of the Ayer Itam Dam. Mengkuang Dam closed to the public from August 1, 2011, until July 31, 2016, for enlargement and renovation. The US$200 million enlargement includes increasing the height of the dam by 11 m (36 ft) and its length 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to the west. A new intake and spillway will also be added.