Wat-er situation: Customers enjoying meals at a local food court at Thean Teik road in Ayer Itam, Penang. Such destinations will draw larger crowds during the water cut from Jan 10-14 as Ayer Itam is not affected. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: With the New Year comes new hopes and dreams but for folks here, all they want is just clean water from the taps.
Worried about the impact of next week’s water disruption, the affected residents are making plans to head out to other states to avoid the “dry” situation.
Housewife Alicia Ong, 55, said she and her husband would be going to Genting Highlands on Jan 10 and only returning on Jan 15.
“We made the hotel bookings the moment we heard about the four-day water cut here.
“I cook almost everyday and I can’t do much in my kitchen without clean water.
“We dare not buy food from the shops as we don’t know where their source of the water is coming from during the water cut. The best way is still to stay out of Penang for the time being,” she said.
The water cut from Jan 10 to Jan 14 is to allow the Penang Water Supply Corporation to carry out repair work at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant to replace two leaking valves measuring 1,200mm.
However, the disruption will not affect areas like Ayer Itam, Tanjong Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, and Teluk Bahang, which receive water from the Ayer Itam and Teluk Bahang dams.
Another resident, who wanted to be known only as Jeya, said he and three other colleagues would be heading to Ipoh for five days from Jan 10.
“We will be working from our hotel room as our factory is affected.”
Jeya, who is an engineer, said their team leader had given them the green light to “work from home” during that period.
The four of them would be sharing the cost of their stay in Ipoh, said Jeya, 26.
For retiree Alan Ng, 65, he would be driving to Kuala Lumpur on Jan 11, which would be the second day of the water cut, to be with his sister.
“My apartment has a water tank on top of the building but the capacity could last only for one day.
“So, I will be going to my sister’s place on the second day to stay there until everything is over.
“I hope the government will be able to rectify the problem once and for all this time,” he said.
Meanwhile, a leading hospital in George Town has issued a directive to doctors to cancel all non-urgent surgeries during the water cut.
“This is because operation theatre needs lots of water to clean up after each surgery. And we’re unsure about how situation would be like then.
“Some of the clinics may not be operating like usual too,” said a doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
While many Penang folk are set to be impacted during that period, hotels and food operators in Ayer Itam are expected to enjoy good business since the water supply there is not likely to be affected.
A hotel receptionist said that all their rooms are fully booked on Jan 12 with just two or three rooms left vacant on Jan 10 and Jan 11.
“Most of our guests are locals. They are probably living in the affected areas. One of them made reservations for six rooms for three days,” she said.
Hawkers, too, would be kept busy with their wok as people go searching for food either to dine-in or take-away.
“Usually, I take off every Thursday but not on Jan 11 as I expect business to be very good on that day,” said CK Tan, who sells Hokkien mee at a food court.
