KUALA LUMPUR – While many plan to return to their villages following the lifting of the ban on interstate travel by the prime minister on Sunday, hundreds of people in the Klang Valley are busy planning to get water storage tanks.
This is because about 1,000 areas will be affected by the scheduled water supply disruption from 9am tomorrow to 9pm on October 16.
Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd said in a statement that this is due to upgrading and maintenance works on critical assets that require the shutdown of the Sg Selangor phase 1 water treatment plant.
For Klang Valley folk, especially those in Selangor, massive water disruptions like this are an annual, even monthly event.
Every year is certain to see many scheduled water disruptions in Selangor, and uncountable unscheduled disruptions due to pollution by factories along rivers that supply water in the Klang Valley.
Even though the water disruption has annoyed many parties, people are taking early preparatory steps and buying storage containers.
Shops that sell water storage containers have been swarmed by Klang Valley folk, and stocks in some places have sold out.
A survey conducted by The Vibes photographer SADIQ ASYRAF showed that the average consumer gets three to four barrels to store water supplies.
While prices so far have not shown any significant increase, the government still needs to do something to control the price of storage containers.
Hoteliers expressed their displeasure that the disruption is happening at a time when hotels and tourism have just restarted and begun to enjoy some business.
They also questioned why the water cut was not done when hotels were not allowed to operate during the long closure due to the movement control order. – The Vibes, October 12, 2021
![Due to increasing stocks, sellers are starting to offer water containers in a variety of attractive types and colours. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_3.jpg)
![One barrel is clearly not enough for a large family. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_10.jpg)
![Customers perusing a selection of water containers. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_11.jpg)
![Other types of water containers, besides the requisite barrels, on offer. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_6.jpg)
![Customers are buying multiple containers as the imminent water disruption will last for four days. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_9.jpg)
![In addition to water containers, vendors are also increasing their stocks of bottled water. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_4.jpg)
![A customer preparing for the water supply disruption with boxes of bottled water. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_18.jpg)
![Customers inspecting potential purchases. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_13.jpg)
![Times like these see customers prioritising water supplies over food supplies. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_5.jpg)
![A trader stockpiling barrels to meet increased demand. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, October 12, 2021](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/OCTO_2021/water_cuts/_extra-large/10102021_-_Selangor_scheduled_water_disruption_preparations_-_SADIQ_ASYRAF_-_12.jpg)