Penang Botanic Gardens Reservoir

Penang Botanic Gardens Reservoir (GPS: 5.44045, 100.28491) is a small reservoir located on the western edge of the Penang Botanic Gardens. It is operated by the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBA), it serves the surrounding neighbourhood around the Ayer Rajah neighbourhood. This is where the water of the waterfall is filtered and cleansed before it is channeled to the public.

The quality of this water supply has long been recognised. In 1804, the first water treatment plant in Malaysia was set up here, to supply to the needs of 10,000 people in Penang. The oval-shaped reservoir of the Penang Waterfall was constructed in the gardens in 1892 by British engineer J. MacRitchie (the same municipal engineer who in 1894 lend his name to the MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore). It was reconstructed in 1950.

The Penang Botanic Gardens Reservoir receives its water from the Penang Botanic Gardens Waterfall located immediately behind the treatment plant. Pipes leads up the river which cascades down from the fall.

Botanic Gardens Reservoir (27 January 2008)


Filtration pond, Botanic Gardens Reservoir (27 January 2008)


The filtration pond ghaut (27 January 2008)


Crystal-clear waters of the Botanic Gardens Reservoir (27 January 2008)


The steps leading to the Penang Botanic Gardens Waterfall (24 April 2005)

Penang Botanic Gardens Reservoir is on the Map of Penang Botanic Gardens