Bukit Merah dam is a modified homogeneous earthfill embankment located upstream of the confluence of Sg. Kurau and Sg. Merah in theState of Perak . The dam was constructed in 1906 and its embankment was raised from RL8.08m to RL 10.67m in the 2nd Malaysia Plan (1961 to 1965) and again in 1984 to its present level at RL11.28m. It has a crest length of about 579m and height at the deepest point of about 9.1m. It is drained by an area of about 480sq.km and has a storage capacity of 92.8Mcm at RL 9.10m. 

The main purpose of the dam is to provide irrigation water for double cropping to some 24,000Ha of padi land under the Krian- Sg. Manik Project. In addition to the irrigation supply, it also provides some 5.6 cumecs of water to meet the domestic and industrial demands for the Krian District. Water in the reservoir is also a source of income for the local fishermen.

Bukit Merah dam comprises a main dam, two saddle dams, a gated service spillway, a gated auxilliary spillway and an irrigation intake headwork. The service spillway and auxilliary spillways are at the main dam sited on the left and right abutment respectively. The are two units of gates at the service spillway and seven units at the auxilliary spillway. The irrigation intake headwork is at the right abutment of Saddle dam II which is about 1km from the main dam. Releases from the headwork are controlled by six units of slide gates to two main irrigation canal namely, Terusan Selinsing and Terusan Besar.

Background of Project

Location

Year Completed

Year of Construction

Project Cost

Kerian, Perak

1906

1902

RM 1,600,000.00

Information of Strtucture

Reservoir Area

Capacity

Catchment Area

Height

41.0 Km²

74.98 Mm³

480.0 Km²

9.10 m

Crest Length

Structure Material

Crest Elevation

Spillway Type

579.09

Earthfill

11.28 m

Gated Ogee Crested

Layout Plan