On the safe side: Hameediyah Restaurant co-founder Ahmed Seeni Pakir (right) showing a large water drum, outside the restaurant in Campbell Street. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: While some eateries are willing to brave the scheduled water supply interruption, others are considering closing for a day or two.
An eatery owner, who wished to be known as Goh, said he would close his outlet in Carnarvon Street for a day, as stored water had proven insufficient during past water cuts.
His two other outlets in Gottlieb Road here and Jalan Tokong Ular in Bayan Lepas will remain open.
“I’ll be closing the one in town because no matter how much water I store, it’s never enough.
“I have staff members who live upstairs, and they need water as well.
“It’s better to let them use the stored water for their daily needs,” he said.
Goh said Saturdays are typically peak business days where he can double his usual earnings, but operating without adequate water poses too many challenges.
Recalling a previous water cut a few years ago, Goh said he had tried to stay open but was forced to shut by mid-day.
“I spent RM3,000 on drums and containers, but we still ran out of water then.
“We need a lot of water to wash dishes and clean up properly.
“That’s when I realised it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
“This time, I’ll just take the hit as it’s only one day,” he said.
Herbal drink shop worker Ong Bee Lan plans to store water to manage basic cleaning, but hopes her customers will opt for bottled drinks during the scheduled water cut.
“We sell our drinks in both bottles and cups, depending on the size ordered.
“I do hope customers will choose the pre-packed ones as it would make things much easier for us.
“Otherwise, I’ll need to wash up, and I’m just hoping the water we have stored will be enough,” she said.
Ong said the drinks are prepared off-site, so the production process won’t be affected by the disruption.
“The cut will likely last around 24 hours or more, but closing over the weekend is not an option as we get the most foot traffic then.
“Being in a central location means we stand to lose significant business if we shut down.
“I just hope the water we have kept will be sufficient to keep things running,” she said when met at her shop along Weld Quay.
Hameediyah Restaurant manager Kader Mydin Abdul Gani said they would need large number of water drums to keep their Campbell Street branch operational during the water cut period.
He said they were still undecided about staying open, having returned all the rented drums after last year’s water cut.
“Last year, we rented 20 drums, which provided enough water to last three full days.
“We’re unsure how long we’ll actually be affected this time, but to be safe, we’ll need to store enough water to last the full duration.
“Saturday is usually a strong business day, so staying open would be ideal. But it requires a lot of preparation.
“We will open for business as soon as the water is back,” he said, adding that their Sungai Ara branch will remain open throughout the 60-hour water cut period.
Tan Hock Lai, who sells drums and various types of water storage containers, said there has been steady demand for the 150-litre containers, which are particularly popular among households.
“Restaurants usually go for the larger 225-litre drums since they need more water for washing and cleaning.
“Households prefer the smaller ones as they’re mainly used for showering and basic cooking needs.
“Some even opt for the 70-litre containers because they’re easier to move around,” he said when met at his shop in Carnarvon Street yesterday.
Tan, however, noticed a drop in business this year compared to the previous water disruption.
“There are fewer buyers this time around, likely because many people stocked up last year.
“These containers are durable and can last for years if kept out of direct sunlight, so it makes sense,” he said.
Still, Tan expects a last-minute rush, believing business will pick up in the coming days as people tend to panic and want to be prepared.
It was reported that a scheduled water supply interruption (SWSI) will take place in Penang from April 25 (10pm) to April 28 (10am), affecting 341,708 consumer accounts across all five districts.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the interruption would last a maximum of 60 hours, and advised consumers to store sufficient water during the duration.
“The water supply interruption announced by the Penang Water Supply Corporation is to complete the final connection of the pipeline crossing Sungai Perai at Kampong Teluk and Ampang Jajah, replacing the temporary pipes installed after the pipes burst in December 2023 and January 2024.
“PBAPP will take advantage of the scheduled closure to carry out 23 waterworks projects at nine installations simultaneously, minimising the need for future disruptions.
“These projects will cost PBAPP RM25mil.
“While the shutdown period is set at 60 hours, PBAPP aims to achieve 40% water recovery within 24 hours and 88% water supply recovery within 48 hours,” he said.
