Residents and businesses are seething over the water cuts that began in large swathes of the Klang Valley yesterday, affecting more than 3.8 million users, including those preparing to celebrate Christmas this weekend.

Private sector retiree Christopher Lee, 65, said he felt depressed thinking about the water problem in his housing area, which is happening for the third time this year.

"Always no water, how can I make preparations for Christmas. The whole family will be gathering at my house. It is an inconvenience that is really disappointing.

"I'm tired of excuses and notices of water rationing. Water is a necessity," Lee told Bernama when met at Taman Danau Kota in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

Cafe operator, Munirah Shafie, 27, said she and her husband had to spend about RM1,000 yesterday to ensure adequate water supply for them to operate their business at Taman Melawati. They also bought 40 big bottles of mineral water.

'Notice should have been sent earlier'

Munirah claimed the notice on the water disruption issued by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) should have been sent earlier to give residents, especially traders, ample time to make the necessary preparations.

Shafie Ismail, 50, who lives on the seventh floor of Apartment Sri Tioman 2, Taman Melati, said the disruption of water supply was a burden to his family.

"My family members have to carry buckets of water up the stairs as the elevator is always not working. Going up the stairs to the seventh floor without carrying water is already onerous, what more when we have to carry heavy loads like this," Shafie said.

Fast food restaurant manager in SS2 Petaling Jaya, Armida Hamdan, 23, said the toilet and place for customers to wash their hands had to be closed because of the water supply disruption.

"The water supply disruption is also expected to affect sales as some drinks on the menu, like 'Frozen Coke', cannot be served as the machine processing the drink needs continuous water supply," Armida added.

The water supply disruption is due to maintenance work at the Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) main entry substation in Bukit Badong, Kuala Selangor, rendering water treatment plants leading to Selangor and Kuala Lumpur inoperable.

It affects consumers in Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Langat, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The duration of the disruption was originally expected to last until Christmas eve, but efforts are now being made to shorten the period.

- Bernama