JB residents left without water supply overnight after power failure

 Residents say Ranhill Syarikat Air Johor has not kept up with its assurance of resuming supply by 1pm today, with taps still dry at 10pm.

Johor Bahru residents have questioned why water tankers were not sent out after a water treatment plant stopped operations following a power failure. (Ranhill SAJ Facebook pic)

JOHOR BAHRU:

Hundreds of thousands of consumers here and in Pasir Gudang have suffered a serious unplanned water disruption for nearly 24 hours.

Water supply was disrupted from last night after the Sultan Iskandar treatment plant stopped operations following a power failure. Residents woke up this morning to dry taps.

In an emailed statement this morning, Ranhill Syarikat Air Johor said Tenaga Nasional was working to restore power, with water supply to follow later. At 2pm, the company said the power problem had been rectified and water supply would be restored fully in stages.

However, a check with residents in many parts of the city at about 10pm today showed that taps were still dry, and many residents remained worried that there would have no water in the morning.

A resident in Taman Bukit Rinting here, who identified himself as Gregory Tan, said residents were told the problem would be settled by 1pm. “It’s a weekend and everyone is at home. Cooking was a problem and eating out was difficult as many food outlets were forced to close, ” he told FMT.

A restaurant owner in Masai near here said eateries have suffered major losses because of the unscheduled cut. “SAJ also did not send water tankers at all to residents around here. In any case, why was there no emergency power source at the plant, ” he said.

FMT is awaiting comment from Ranhill Syarikat Air Johor and Tenaga Nasional. - FMT