GEORGE TOWN: Some residents in Penang affected by the scheduled water supply disruptions starting today (January 10) until Sunday morning have chosen to leave the state, either for a vacation or to return to their hometowns.
Checks by Bernama found that many found it more comfortable to be elsewhere temporarily until water supply is fully restored. Nevertheless, they are still taking precautionary measures by storing water at home.
Mazlita Abdul Malik, 37, who lives in Relau, Bayan Lepas, said her family chose to go on holiday in Genting Highlands because they were concerned that this disruption would continue, like last month when a pipe burst in Sungai Perai, causing her residential area to be without water supply for a week.
"It's difficult when there's no water because it's a basic necessity, especially in a household with seven adults and two children, including a baby, which certainly requires a lot of water.
"Hopefully, when we return, there will be water, but for emergency measures, we have also stored some," she told Bernama here today (January 10).
Hamidah Udin, 70, who lives in a flat area in Seberang Jaya in Seberang Perai Tengah, said her small living space also made it difficult for her to store water in large quantities, so she and her daughter decided to return to their hometown in Tapah, Perak today.
"It is just the two of us, so we are also short in numbers to carry water upstairs. So, the easy way is to just go back to our hometown. Meanwhile, we can also go for a holiday because it has been a long time since we last went on a vacation," said the single mother.
Meanwhile, Abbas Ali, the manager of a nasi kandar restaurant in Teluk Kumbar, said the restaurant will be open as usual during the water supply disruption period because they had stored water in four water tanks, each with a capacity of 500 litres, for business operations there.
However, Abbas said the stored water was more for washing dishes and cutleries, while for drinks and cooking, they used mineral water and ice cubes because it is cleaner.
"We are open for business as usual because we were more prepared this time round in terms of water storage compared to when the pipe burst in Sungai Perai.
The Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) announced that about 590,000 users, including non-domestic users, would experience scheduled water disruptions for 96 hours from 6am today until 6 am on January 14 to allow for the replacement of two valves at the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant and other works at 22 locations throughout Penang.
However, PBAPP expects at least 101 areas in the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) and Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) districts to receive water supply after 48 hours, while a total of 157 areas involving the SPT, Seberang Perai Selantan (SPS), and Northeast and Southwest districts in the island area will begin receiving water supply after 72 hours. — Bernama
