Car wash can operate for only six hours

SHAH ALAM: Licensed car wash outlets in Selangor will only be allowed to operate six hours daily — from noon to 6pm — with immediate effect.

“All local councils are also to shut down illegal car wash outlets,” said a state government press statement.

Selangor fixed 37% of the water level in the state dams as “critical” during the last water rationing exercise, but has reduced the mark to 30% now.

According to the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), the Sungai Selangor and Sungai Tinggi dams were at 31.97% and 45.15% capacity as of 8am yesterday.

A car wash and detailing centre operator in Petaling Jaya said the ruling would definitely affect his business as his operations were from 9am to 7pm.

“We can just ask our customers to come at a different time, but perhaps the local councils should first do a survey on the amount of water we use compared to restaurants and offices,” said the man who owns three car wash and detailing centres in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam.

“This is because most car wash centres use machines that help save water.”

Meanwhile, Selangor will know next week if they will be subjected to another round of water rationing.

“We will not decide hastily,” said state executive councillor Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi after attending a Selangor Economic Action Council meeting yesterday, which also discussed the water woes.

He added that since the state government had experience in managing water rationing, future exercises would be better managed.

Dr Ahmad said the decision to initiate water rationing would also take into account the projected water supply for 2015.