Air Itam dam: Penang’s gem that blurs the line between manmade engineering and nature’s beauty
The Air Itam dam is no stranger to Penangites.
Located in the highland areas of the Penang island, the dam, which faces Air Itam town, has been catering to the water needs of the islanders for decades while at the same time providing an avenue for them to relax and unwind themselves.
Avid joggers, cyclists and runners would visit the dam to circle around it through a 2.8km long tarped route built around the dam. Some would not mind testing their stamina and mettle by starting from the parking lot of the infamous Kek Lok Si temple downhill up to the dam through a single road that provides access to the dam.
Passionate photographers would spend hours capturing the views of the picturesque dam and the forest surrounding it. Additionally, the dam - which is positioned at the highest point of Air Itam town, offers the best vantage points for them to capture panoramic views of the town and almost the entirety of George Town city from up there.
Furthermore, hikers would visit the dam as it is surrounded by networks of trails to various other hiking destinations around the Penang highlands such as Bukit Penara and the majestic Bukit Bendera (aka Penang Hill).
As someone who has visited the dam more than five times, I would like to disclose that I have never been bored by the scenery offered by the dam. As a matter of fact, I have never once seen this structure as a dam at all.
For me, this place is simply a lake that happens to have a dam-like structure to it. As you walk around the dam and gaze upon the water body from certain points of the dam, you will notice that this dam is no less different than the natural lakes found around the country. The vibes and the aesthetics of the Air Itam dam is just too ethereal for visitors to dismiss the place for what it actually is.
When was it built? Who does it serve?
The dam is the oldest of the three serving the state as it was built in 1958 and was commissioned on December 8, 1962.
The 63-year-old dam, which is also the smallest in the state, currently serves 170,000 consumers in three areas - Air Itam (where 100,000 of them are in this area alone), Paya Terubong and Green Lane.
According to the state’s water concessionaire Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), which oversees the dams in Penang, the dam has a maximum effective capacity of 2.16 billion litres of water. The dam receives 15 million litres per day (MLD) from three main intakes – Balik Pulau, Side Stream, and Sg Pinang West.
The dam is interconnected with two other dams - the Teluk Bahang dam and the Expanded Mengkuang dam in Bukit Mertajam in Seberang Perai, ensuring continuous water supply for its consumers.
Fauna attractions
As you walk around the dam, you will come across plenty of monkeys, the Malayan giant squirrel, plantain squirrel, and white-bellied sea eagles. The forest surrounding the dam is also home to the critically endangered dusky langurs.
As for other bird species, the MyPenang site has listed several species, such as the Crimson, Olive-backed, and Brown-throated Sunbirds, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama, and Black-naped Monarch, which are common here. Around the dam are White-bellied Sea Eagles and White-throated Kingfishers. Bulbuls found here include the Olive-winged, Yellow-vented, and Black-headed. Fluffy-backed and Tit-babbler can be commonly found around the dam area.
As for reptiles, I could not independently confirm whether there are snakes or monitor lizards as I have never encountered one in my previous visits. (my apologies). Perhaps other visitors could have encountered them.
How to go to the dam?
In order to get to the dam, you would have to drive through the Jalan Balik Pulau (Balik Pulau Road) opposite the parking lot of the Kek Lok Si Temple. The journey to the dam from the parking lot to the dam’s entrance is quite short as it would take you approximately 7 minutes. However, visitors need to be alerted to this extremely narrow, curvy road and the fact that there will be hikers and cyclists that will be using the road.
Therefore, drive slowly and safely until you reach the destination. As for parking lots, the dam does have limited parking space that could accommodate around 10 to 15 cars. However, do not fret as there are wide parking spaces available about 100m away from the dam’s entrance.
The dam will be open to visitors from 6 am to 8 pm daily.
For those from abroad or within Malaysia who plan to visit Penang, please include this dam in your checklist. Trust me, you will not regret it.
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