PENANG, 15 November 2017 – Tasik Aman and Tasik Harapan, two adjoining lakes located in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) could serve as key catchment areas in flood prevention and mitigation efforts for the surrounding areas.

According to the Director of the USM River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), Professor Dr. Nor Azazi Zakaria, Sungai Gambir was created when USM was established close to 50 years ago to serve as a transit or catchment point before it flows out to the sea. The existence of the two lakes would bring a high impact in relation to flood mitigation efforts, whether on-campus or in nearby areas, including Sungai Dua and Batu Uban.

“The lakes could serve as a solution in dealing with various issues in areas surrounding USM if they are upgraded and the source, which comes from Sungai Gambir could be flowing out water of better quality,” added Nor Azazi who is also the USM Engineering Campus Director.

The lakes presently serve as catchment basins from Sungai Gambir, from the area next to Jalan Yeap Chor Ee into the USM campus grounds before flowing out to the nearest shorelines.

Said Nor Azazi further, the water quality and colour of the lakes could be cleared up to Level Two standards once the water in the lakes has undergone a few processes. 

“We truly welcome the assistance, in terms of funding, from any party that could provide us with an estimated RM6 million to further improve the quality and in turning it into a dedicated facility, both in the short and long term, serving especially Penang and Malaysia, in making the country as a reference point in water management of world standards,” said Nor Azazi, an expert in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, Sediment Transport in River/Drain and also Environmental Management and Soil Treatment & Soil Reinforcement Techniques.

Both Tasik Aman and Tasik Harapan offer multiple applications in flood mitigation efforts, therefore, the importance and upgrading of both lakes should be given priority.

For the record, Tasik Harapan is 0.8 hectares wide while Tasik Aman has a width of 0.6 hectares, and both lakes are adjacent to Masjid USM and developing areas around Sungai Dua on Penang Island.

Both lakes are key time-out spots for USM students and staff alike, who would go jogging and kayaking among others, while enjoying the fresh air from surrounding foliage.

Since USM was established, the lakes have been the sites for the campus community to spend their free time, with the availability of outdoor exercise equipment close by for all to use.

"Without the two lakes, the flow of Sungai Gambir would result in rapid disposal out to sea, and this could cause flooding in surrounding areas during heavy rain or high tide, as there is insufficient catchment areas upstream,” said Nor Azazi, who developed REDAC from a unit at USM into a Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin