WHEN it comes to basic amenities, it would not be wrong to surmise that the people will find it harder to deal with a situation where the pipes run dry over, say, an interruption in electricity supply.

Which is why, despite the extremely wet weather we have been experiencing of late, temperatures continue to rise over the water crisis that has affected hundreds of thousands of consumers in various parts of the Klang Valley.

As one reader puts it, “it is mind-boggling and a miserable way to start the year 2013 with water disruption.”

And there is the constant worry that not only will the disruption last for days, but also that the taps may continue to run dry even during the Chinese New Year period.

At times like this, many different issues will come into play. Even if it is a genuine breakdown caused by broken pipes or malfunctioning plants, everything can, and will, eventually be connected to the bigger issue of water management in the state of Selangor.

The fact remains, as has been shown in recent days, that trying to even take care of short-term disruptions can be a mammoth task.

And if you happen to be one of the many residents who have to lug pails of water up a high-rise apartment each time this happens, you will understand how serious the problem has become.

One report cited the case of a woman who suffered a miscarriage while carrying buckets of water up to her flat on the fourth floor.

All the stakeholders must be prepared to come together, and leave the politics aside.

There are serious long-term supply and demand matters to address, which an economically-advanced state like Selangor cannot afford to ignore.

The blame game is of no benefit to anyone, and if we continue to engage in polemics without a real desire to end the stalemate, the water woes will not only continue but also cascade into an onslaught that cannot be contained.

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