86-HOUR WATER TRIAL
Frenzied Klang Valley residents buy plastic drums, bottled drinking water before taps go dry
OVER four million Klang Valley residents are bracing for a fourday water supply disruption from today to Saturday.
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 before their taps run dry.
Many consumers have been in a frenzy buying plastic drums and 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 for the fourday 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 was concerned that her stored water would be insufficient. She said water tankers, which would supply water to affected areas during the water cut, might not arrive as scheduled.
“I am worried that my stored water will not last as I have children. In the worst case scenario, I will have to return to my village in Subang,” she added.
Ampang resident Ilias Ibrahim, 63, said he started preparations a week ago by buying several large plastic drums to store water in. The sundry shop owner said water cuts were nothing new, but he was apprehensive about having to cope for four days without water supply.
“Mineral water bottles were flying off the shelves last weekend as consumers prepared for the water cut,” he told Bernama.
Food stall operator S’Ann Mazna Abdullah, 64, said she would 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 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 would be mobilising 82 water tankers and 17 jumbo tankers during the 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 activate 10 Local Service Centres (PKS) to assist in providing water supply. PKS will be activated from 8am on Friday and will remain in operation for 24 hours until water supply is fully restored,” he told Bernama.
Abdul Raof said consumers could call the Syabas Call Centre at 15300 or via WhatsApp at 0192816739 or 0192800919 for information.