From Malaysiakini http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/m...s-taps-run-dry
Water frenzy in Klang Valley as 1 million consumers face dry taps
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
August 31, 2013
Latest Update: August 31, 2013 02:36 pm
Klang Valley folk were in a frenzy snatching up bottled water at convenience and neighbourhood stores as taps ran dry after the closure of four water treatment plants caused by diesel spillage 10km from an intake area in the Sungai Selangor.
Over one million consumers in seven districts will be affected by water disruption due to the closure of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2 and 3 and Rantau Panjang treatment plants to facilitate clean-up works.
The current treated water reserve at the four plants can only last for a day. Districts affected are Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor.
The four plants produce 2.67 billion litres of water daily, catering to 57% of water demand in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The Star online checks with store clerks revealed that their premises had already sold out their stock of bottled drinking and mineral water barely an hour after most of them opened today.
"It's crazy. There were people lining up in front of the shop before we even opened," said a Jaya Grocer clerk in Tropicana.
In Damansara Uptown, residents queued up to enter the storage room of a 7-Eleven store to buy water bottle cartons in bulk.
Despite the frenzy, the mood was light with people chatting and joking amongst themselves over the water crisis.
Accountant Liew Chin Ee and his family brought two cars to load up on cartons after hearing news about the supply disruption yesterday.
"We have already been to a few places that have already run out of water! I don't know how long this is going to be so better safe than sorry," he told the Star online.
Housewife Carol Lim said she was surprised to find that her home in Damansara Utama was without water when she woke up.
"We had a bit of water at around 9pm yesterday but I thought it would be okay by today. I didn't know it was to be this serious," said Lim.
Tesco Malaysias Corporate Affairs and Government Relations director Azlam Shah Alias said stocks were running low in their stores in affected areas but more stock was being brought in from its central distribution centre in Bukit Beruntung, the Star online reported.
We are also working closely with all our mineral water suppliers to deliver stocks direct to stores and these are expected to arrive later this afternoon," he said today.
Mydin Marketing and Communications manager Sabariah Mohd said the five-litre bottles were running low in most of their hypermarkets in the Klang Valley.
In response, we are restocking quickly to meet the sudden demand, she said.
She advised customers not to panic as Mydin would ensure that it had enough supply to meet the demand.
In a statement last night, Syabas Corporate Communication and Public Affairs department deputy general manager Priscilla Alfred said the Code Red was activated at 4pm yesterday and staff are on standby.
Code Red is activated when a situation is most severe and affects more than a million consumers.
"LUAS (Lembaga Urus Air Selangor) has initiated a cleaning up exercise," she said.
It is also seeking help from the government to help transport water supply to affected consumers, as its facilities are not designed to cater to such a massive water disruption.
Syabas is only able to provide 42 mobile water tankers and 525 static tankers to assist those affected. - August 31, 2013.
Water frenzy in Klang Valley as 1 million consumers face dry taps
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
August 31, 2013
Latest Update: August 31, 2013 02:36 pm
Klang Valley folk were in a frenzy snatching up bottled water at convenience and neighbourhood stores as taps ran dry after the closure of four water treatment plants caused by diesel spillage 10km from an intake area in the Sungai Selangor.
Over one million consumers in seven districts will be affected by water disruption due to the closure of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2 and 3 and Rantau Panjang treatment plants to facilitate clean-up works.
The current treated water reserve at the four plants can only last for a day. Districts affected are Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor.
The four plants produce 2.67 billion litres of water daily, catering to 57% of water demand in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The Star online checks with store clerks revealed that their premises had already sold out their stock of bottled drinking and mineral water barely an hour after most of them opened today.
"It's crazy. There were people lining up in front of the shop before we even opened," said a Jaya Grocer clerk in Tropicana.
In Damansara Uptown, residents queued up to enter the storage room of a 7-Eleven store to buy water bottle cartons in bulk.
Despite the frenzy, the mood was light with people chatting and joking amongst themselves over the water crisis.
Accountant Liew Chin Ee and his family brought two cars to load up on cartons after hearing news about the supply disruption yesterday.
"We have already been to a few places that have already run out of water! I don't know how long this is going to be so better safe than sorry," he told the Star online.
Housewife Carol Lim said she was surprised to find that her home in Damansara Utama was without water when she woke up.
"We had a bit of water at around 9pm yesterday but I thought it would be okay by today. I didn't know it was to be this serious," said Lim.
Tesco Malaysias Corporate Affairs and Government Relations director Azlam Shah Alias said stocks were running low in their stores in affected areas but more stock was being brought in from its central distribution centre in Bukit Beruntung, the Star online reported.
We are also working closely with all our mineral water suppliers to deliver stocks direct to stores and these are expected to arrive later this afternoon," he said today.
Mydin Marketing and Communications manager Sabariah Mohd said the five-litre bottles were running low in most of their hypermarkets in the Klang Valley.
In response, we are restocking quickly to meet the sudden demand, she said.
She advised customers not to panic as Mydin would ensure that it had enough supply to meet the demand.
In a statement last night, Syabas Corporate Communication and Public Affairs department deputy general manager Priscilla Alfred said the Code Red was activated at 4pm yesterday and staff are on standby.
Code Red is activated when a situation is most severe and affects more than a million consumers.
"LUAS (Lembaga Urus Air Selangor) has initiated a cleaning up exercise," she said.
It is also seeking help from the government to help transport water supply to affected consumers, as its facilities are not designed to cater to such a massive water disruption.
Syabas is only able to provide 42 mobile water tankers and 525 static tankers to assist those affected. - August 31, 2013.