KUALA LUMPUR: Over four million residents of the Klang Valley are bracing for a three-day water supply disruption from April 24 to 27.
Up to 620,835 account holders of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) in 577 areas of Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor are making last-minute preparations in advance of their taps going dry.
Many consumers have been in a frenzy of acquiring and filling up plastic drums and purchasing bottled drinking water since Sunday. There were reports of shortages of both items at retail outlets over the weekend.
Media practitioner Zubaidah Mat Isa, 34, said she purchased a large barrel and two big plastic pails to store water in for the 86-hour dry period.
“I started storing water and buying large bottles of drinking water since Saturday,” she told Bernama.
The mother of two, who lives in Setia Alam, said she is concerned that her stored water will be insufficient; and that water tankers, which will supply water to affected areas during the water cut, may not arrive as scheduled.
“I am worried that my stored water will not last, as I have small children. If the worst case scenario is realised, I will have return to my village in Subang,” she added.
Ampang resident Ilias Ibrahim, 63, said he started preparations a week ago by buying several large drums to store water in.
The sundry shop owner said water supply cuts are nothing new, but that he is still apprehensive over having to live and work for three days without sufficient water supply.
“Mineral water bottles were flying off the shelves last weekend as consumers came, prepared for the worst,” he told Bernama.
Food stall operator S’Ann Mazna Abdullah, 64, said she will be closing her business during the period.
“We need lots of water to wash and cook, and a water disruption is a big problem to us. So we decided not to open for business for a few days.
“We will suffer losses running into the four figures for stopping operations. But we really want to ensure cleanliness,” she told Bernama.
The water disruption was planned by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) and the National Water Services Commission (Span) to conduct improvement works to the Sungai Selangor Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant (LRA SSP2).
Syabas Customer Relations and Communications Department head Abdul Raof Ahmad said the company will be mobilising 82 water tankers and 17 jumbo tankers during the water disruption period.
“Apart from lorry tankers, 106 static tanks will be placed at strategic locations and at critical premises such as hospitals, clinics, dialysis centres and so on.
“We will also activate 10 Local Service Centres (PKS) to assist in providing water supply. The PKS will be activated from 8am on April 26 and will remain in operation for 24 hours until water supply is fully restored,” he told Bernama.
Abdul Raof said that consumers can call the Syabas Call Centre at 15300 or via WhatsApp at 0192816739 or 0192800919 for more information.