Klang Valley residents prepare for 4-day water disruption starting Wednesday (April 24)

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): In less than 24 hours, 577 areas in the Klang Valley will be experiencing temporary water supply disruption from April 24 to 27 due to improvement works on water supply system at Sungai Selangor Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant (LRA SSP2).

The water disruption will be felt in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor from Wednesday involving 620,835 account holders of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

Even though water disruption is not something new, it is still a major worry among consumers in the affected areas and many have made early preparations such as buying plastic drums to store water and bottled drinking water since Sunday.

A media practitioner, Zubaidah Mat Isa, 34, said she had purchased a large drum and two big plastic pails to store water during the affected period from Wednesday.

"Since Saturday, I have started storing water and had bought large bottles of drinking water to be sent to my nanny's house as she will also be affected," she told Bernama.

The mother of two who lives in Setia Alam added that she had to take other measures if the stored water was insufficient and lorry tanker did not arrive as scheduled.

"We are worried if the stored water will not last 14 hours as we have small children. In the worst case scenario I will return to my village in Subang," she said.

Nafisah Ahmad, 59, who is a house renovation contractor, said she had started storing water to ensure works continue to be carried out in a unit at the government quarters in Jalan Duta.

"I have brought three large drums to store water so that works could proceed smoothly," she said.

Meanwhile Ilias Ibrahim, 63, had started preparations a week ago by buying several large drums to store water.

Ilias, who is working at a sundry shop, said water supply cut is not new but he was apprehensive when it was announced by Syabas well ahead.

"All of us in Chow Kit are prepared. Suddenly, bottled mineral water are literary flying off the shelves last weekend as consumers came prepared for the worst," said the man from Ampang, Selangor.

Food stall operator Sann Mazna Abdullah, 64, would be closing the stall during the period.

"We need lots of water to wash and cook and water disruption is a big problem to us so we decide not to open for business for a few days.

"We would be suffering losses running into four figures for stopping operation but then again we really want to ensure cleanliness, in this case we rather close the stall during the water disruption period," she said.

Meanwhile, Sybas Customer Relations and Communications Department head, Abdul Raof Ahmad said the company would be mobilising 82 water tankers and 17 jumbo tankers during the water disruption period.

"Apart from lorry tankers, 106 static tanks would 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) in assist in providing water supply.

"PKS will be activated from 8am on April 26 and will remain in operation for 24 hours until water supply is fully restored. So far, we have not asked any outside parties for assistance as all Syabas assets would be deployed to help consumers," he said.

He added in emergency cases such as funerals or wedding feasts, customers can contact Syabas at its call centre at 15300 or via WhatsApp at 019-2816739 or 019-2800919. - Bernama