GEORGE TOWN: The water disruption in Penang could be a learning process instead of a debating point, says N.V. Subbarow.
"There is no need to point fingers and parents can instead take this opportunity to teach their children to conserve water,” said the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) education officer.
Subbarow said that there is no point in criticising the Chief Minister or the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) as the cut is unavoidable.
"Penangites need to remember the water disruption issues faced by other states, especially those in Selangor,” he said.
"According to the PBAPP, 60 static water tanks will be placed at targeted areas and they will deploy a fleet of 99 tankers to supply water," he added in a statement on Sunday (Jan 7).
Subbarow said people should learn to conserve water and use this opportunity to educate themselves on water wastage.
"A lot of water is wasted in every home. The constant drip of a faucet is not only annoying, it can be costly for homeowners. Unnecessary water usage can put a dent in your finances, and the easiest way for homeowners to conserve water is to simply turn off the tap,” he said.
Subbarow then said that turning off the tap when brushing teeth can save up to eight gallons of water every day. On a per-gallon basis, a homeowner’s cost of water is fairly inexpensive, but the cost adds up over time,” he said.
"At one drip per second, a faucet can leak 3,000 gallons of water in a year," added Subbarow.
Subbarow then said that people can install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators.
"Take shorter showers and install dual-flush toilets. Refrain from leaving the water running when hand-washing dishes,” he said.
He added that dishwashers are a possible alternative as most modern models are more efficient than washing by hand.
"If you do not have a dishwasher, use a dishpan in the kitchen sink when washing and rinsing dishes. Employing some of these water-saving tactics can reduce your in-home water use by up to 35%," he said.
Almost 600,000 consumers will be affected by the scheduled water cut from Jan 10-14.
The supply disruption is meant to allow for valve replacement work at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant and repair work at several locations along the main pipeline.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said the work to replace the two major pipes was challenging and hoped the public would understand the long-term need to do so.
