A worker at the SS2 food court in Petaling Jaya stocking up on water in anticipation of the three-day disruption. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
SEVERAL emergency and medical service providers have contingency plans in place for the three-day scheduled water disruption in the Klang Valley that began today.
Damansara Fire and Rescue Station chief Ramli Harun said several water tanks are on standby at their premises in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
“The fire engines have sufficient water supply.
“If necessary, we will utilise water from nearby ponds or lakes (to put out fires).
“We will also get backup support from other fire stations, such as the one in Jalan Penchala (Petaling Jaya), if necessary.”
The director’s office of Hospital Sungai Buloh said in a statement that along with Hospital Selayang and Hospital Tanjung Karang, they have prepared contingency plans in view of the disruption.
“We have discussed the situation with Air Selangor and they will provide water supply to these three hospitals if needed,” said the statement.
“Hospital Sungai Buloh’s engineering department will also continuously monitor water levels in the tanks during the disruption.
“Supply from the main tank is sufficient to run operations for two days.”
Assunta Hospital maintenance officer Syahir Rahman said they had prepared 10 units of 1,100L water tanks, even though they would not be impacted by the water cut.
“The capacity is enough for two days, in case the water disruption affects the hospital.
“We also have contacts of four private water tankers,” he said.
Operators and associations running various businesses and services are making the necessary preparations in anticipation of the disruption that will affect areas in Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor
Several operators even said they were prepared to temporarily close.
Persatuan Dialisis Kurnia Petaling Jaya secretary David Chong said they are making arrangements for Air Selangor water tankers to drop by the centre today.
“We have two 400L water tanks at the dialysis centre, one of which is always a spare, as we cannot risk having any shortage of water at our premises.
“We have never had to stop operations even during past water cuts, as Air Selangor has always supplied water when we needed it.
“We have 20 people coming for treatment daily. I hope everything will go as planned,” said Chong.
Muhd Nurizal Abdul Hamid, the owner of a car wash in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, was unaware of the water cut until informed by StarMetro.
He said during previous water cuts he had been forced to temporarily close his business.
“I had plans of purchasing water drum tanks as backup supply.
“However, even if I purchase them, there won’t be sufficient water to sustain operations.
“Finding suitable storage space without risking legal penalties is also a concern.”
Another car wash owner, Ragupathy Krisnamoortry, said that his team had prepared three units of 1,800L water tanks.
“We will rely on supply from the water tanks during the disruption.
“If that runs out, we will have to temporarily shut our operations,” said Ragupathy, whose business is located at a petrol station in Seapark, Petaling Jaya.
An association representing factory operators in Balakong said premises that rely on consistent water supply would have to either halt or cut production by half.
“While most factories that are heavily reliant on water supply will have a spare tank, reserves are only enough for half a day,” said Persatuan Pengilang dan Pengusaha Taman Industri Selesa Jaya Balakong vice-president and Balakong Chinese Chamber and Industries deputy chairman Leong Kam Onn.
Leong, who runs a beverage and mooncake factory, said it was inevitable for food manufacturers to experience losses every time there was water supply disruption.
“We experience this every year, but it can’t be helped as Air Selangor needs to change the pipes as well as do maintenance work,” he said.
Air Selangor said on social media that the temporary disruption was to allow asset maintenance and replacement works at the Sungai Selangor Phase 1 Water Treatment Plant.
Work was expected to start at 9am today and be completed by 7pm the same day.
Water supply is expected to resume in stages, starting from 3am tomorrow.
Water supply in 20% of the affected areas would be restored by 3pm tomorrow and 90% by 3am on Friday, with full restoration to all areas by noon on Friday.
For details, visit https://waterupdates.airselangor.com
