AS the water supply disruption enters its third day in the Klang Valley, frustration has turned to desperation as even bottled water has become scarce in supermarkets and convenience stores.

The water tankers promised by the state government have not been seen in some areas, leading to panic buying and many shops running out of bottled water.

People who spoke to The Malaysian Insight were vexed because they are unable to do simple chores like washing and cooking. For the Muslims, prayers were impossible without ablution.

Air Selangor yesterday announced that the taps would be dry for  at least four days after a factory’s contamination of Sg Selangor in Rawang’s Sg Gong industrial area led to the closure of four treatment plants in the state.

In a statement this morning, Air Selangor, said the Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants resumed operations last night.

It did not say when water supply would resume for the estimated 1.2 million accounts in the Klang Valley.

Some irate consumers took to social media to vent their frustration.

“We face issues when it comes to cooking, washing clothes and bathing!

“Everything has to be stocked up but for how long? It goes on for three to four days and in a house with six people, it is just tough to manage when a basic need isn’t accessible,” said 24-year-old Preshant Menon, 24, from Subang Jaya.

Syima Zainal, 32, in Ampang, said she could not perform her prayers.

“The issue for me is not about not being able to do chores but it’s more about not being able to perform ablution for prayers,” she said.

The factory in the centre of the storm has been identified as Yip Chee Seng & Sons Sdn Bhd, which services heavy machinery.

It had allegedly discharged motor oil into a drain that leads to the river.

The four brothers who owned the factory were arrested by police late last night.

Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin today said the suspects, aged between 50 and 60, would be remanded until next Thursday for further investigation.

Housewife Nagarani Velayudham, 38, who lives in the Marsalam flats near the factory, said she sometimes had to wait three days for the water tanker during a water supply cut.

Disruptions were common in the area, she said, due to broken pipes. The last such event occurred in March, during which time the water tanker took nearly three days to show up.

Pemilda Tuti, 35, from Rawang Perdana, said she had to bathe in the river during a water cut three months ago when the water tanker failed to arrive at all.

Last night and early today, the elusiveness of bottled water was trending on social media.

“We want to buy bottled water to drink but that is now no more,” said Menon.

“Many people buy them as if they bathe in mineral water. I saw a family buy all 10 five-litre bottles in a mart nearby. Shouldn’t they be a little more considerate?”
 
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said yesterday 78 tankers, 22 jumbo-tankers, 54 static tanks, 18 rural service centres, eight public water pipes were on standby to provide water for the people.

The state government has also distributed 23,000 five-litre bottles of drinking water. – September 5, 2020.