Finding ways to deal with water crisis

With no end in sight for the lengthy water crisis, some consumers in Selangor are getting savvy at meeting their bathing and washing needs.

Some are taking their families to petrol stations to shower and do their laundry.

Others are doing the same at R&R stops within reach of their homes.

And some are even signing up with clubs and gyms just to use their shower facilities.

A petrol station operator in USJ said many people were coming there to bathe and collect water.

“These people are desperate for water and have none at home so I’m just trying to help,” he said.

“The station has not been hit by water cuts and we have three or four water storage tanks on the roof.”

A sales representative of a well-known gym, who asked not to be named, said some people had resorted to coming into the facility for its running water.

“We have had people come in to use the taps in our washroom and some have signed up just to gain access to our shower facilities,” he said.

The gym has several water tanks which allow it to stay operational during water cuts.

Several college students hit hard by the water rationing at their homes have started going to their campus to shower.

Jeang Sheng, 21, said his area had not received water for two weeks since the onset of rationing so he showers at UCSI University where he studies.

“Sometimes I go in earlier to shower before class; other times I stay back to shower after class,” he said.

He said his water woes were worsened by the inconsistent delivery times of water tankers serving his area.

“They seem to come at random times. They have delivered water at around midnight and even at 4am once,” he said.

“I try to preserve the water I’ve stored at home by showering at my campus.”

Some petrol stations and other places have had to put up signs telling people that they cannot bathe or collect water on their premises.

Md Khairi Selamat, Selangor Water Management Au­thority (Luas) director, had announced that there would be a water emergency declared in the state if major dams hit critical level.

The Sungai Selangor and Klang Gates dams each have just over two months of water sup­­­ply before they reach the danger zone.