Full tanks: Besides bracing for the scheduled water cut, shop owners are also preparing for eventualities in case the disruption exceeds the three-day plan. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: With water supply disruptions scheduled from today to Friday in the Klang Valley, businesses here are ready to bear the extra cost to keep their doors open.
Bake Plan bakery owner Sarah Yong, 41, said based on her experience with past water cuts, she had to spend about RM100 to buy over 20 crates of mineral water to keep her shop open.
“Our usual monthly water bill is only about RM90. The mineral water can last for just three days.
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“And we also have to expect possible delays in resumption of supply and even then, the water was not usable for almost a day.
“We do have a large number of water containers filled but that is mainly for cleaning. The mineral water will be used for baking,” she said at her bakery in SS2 here yesterday.
A pet grooming salon manager, who only wanted to be known as Wong, said the outlet installed a water tank which he hoped would be enough for the duration.
He said the salon would likely have to close if the water cut was extended beyond 72 hours.
“Unlike other businesses, there is no point in us buying or storing water in basins as we need water pressure to properly clean pets and the kennels.
“We will have to stop providing grooming and boarding services if the water tank runs out, though our store will still be open for the sale of pet products,” added the 39-year old.
Hair salon owner Leon Ni, 38, said it was unfortunate that his water tank unexpectedly broke down, forcing him to spend over RM300 on dozens of jugs and a high pressure aquarium pump for the shower heads to stay in business during the cut.
A laundry shop manager, who wanted to be known as Pang, said he planned to send clothes to be washed and dried at an unaffected area.
“We have already planned where to send it though it is going to cost a lot more compared with if we washed it in-house.
“We do not want to let our loyal customers down by closing the shop but if the water cut lasts for more than three days, we will have no choice,” he lamented.
Stall operators at the popular hawker centre in SS2 said they were bracing for “financial pain” from the water cut.
A 38-year old vegetarian mixed rice seller who wanted to be known as Yap said he had prepared dozens of basins and containers filled with water at home.
“Once the water cut kicks in, I’ll bring over a few at a time from my house using my truck. I have also stocked up on extra disposable plates and cutlery,” Yap added.
Drinks stall operator Gan Son Giat said he would likely only be able to operate on the first day.
“We have a machine that makes fresh sugarcane juice which needs to be frequently washed and cleaned.
“This coupled with the relatively small stall space and need for lots of water to make drinks means that the amount I can store will only last a day,” he said.
Air Selangor announced the temporary scheduled water supply disruption for consumers in Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor from June 5 to June 7.
This was due to the implementation of asset maintenance and replacement works at Sungai Selangor Phase 1 Water Treatment Plant (SSP1 WTP).
