Residents getting water from a tanker near the Perling market in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: The major water disruption affecting some 300,000 people here is being resolved in stages, with supply restored to 57% of consumers as of Friday (May 23) morning.
Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said repairs at the Sungai Johor water treatment plant were completed at 7am.
"With all repair works done, supply is being restored to consumers.
"Some consumers may get their supply a bit later on as the empty tanks along the pipeline will need to fill up first before water reaches the last homes along the system," he said, adding that updates would be provided from time to time.
ALSO READ: Continuing water disruption forces emergency meeting between Johor govt, operator
Water utility company Ranhill SAJ had said supply was disrupted after heavy rain on Tuesday (May 20) damaged the motors of six pumps at the treatment plant.
It was reported that an estimated 300,000 consumers in Johor Baru were affected by the subsequent water cut, with repairs expected to be completed by midnight on Wednesday (May 21).
However, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi told the state assembly in a special address that work on the pumps was taking longer than anticipated.
He also ordered Ranhill SAJ to call a crisis meeting and get the pumps back online.
ALSO READ: Johor residents turn to petrol stations as city taps run dry
“The pumps were supposed to be fully repaired on Wednesday (May 21), but they are still a problem,” he said, adding that the water company was told to expedite repairs.
Other districts were instructed to send water tankers and bottled water to the affected housing areas here, Onn Hafiz said.
Ranhill SAJ has also dispatched 16 water tankers to critical locations, including hospitals and dialysis centres.
