BANTING, Feb 26 ― The water crisis that had been worsening at certain areas in Selangor since early February and the water rationing exercise tomorrow, as announced by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) has evoked mixed reactions from consumers.

A random survey by Bernama at Kampung Labohan Dagang here found that many of the residents were dissatisfied with the state government's delay to initiate the rationing exercise causing their taps to run dry.

Mohd Salleh Waijan, 46, said the delay had not only disrupted his family's daily routine, it had increased their living costs.

“Syabas did send clean water here but it was not sufficient as some people did not follow the limit, forcing others to resort to a nearby lake.

“We had to buy containers to store the water. We use a motorcycle to fetch the water from the lake about three to four times, and have to bear additional costs for petrol,” he said.

Lusira Jemuri, 42, said she breathed a sigh of relief when told about the water rationing plan.

“Carrying the water from the lake everyday was really tiring and sapped my energy,” she said.

Kampung Labohan Dagang is among 19 areas affected by the closure of the Bukit Tampoi dam on February 7 due to high ammonia content in the untreated river water in Sungai Langat.

Yesterday Syabas Technical Development executive director V.Subramaniam said the rationing, from tomorrow until March 31, would be carried out in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang.

Subramaniam said to accommodate consumers' needs, the supply would be channelled from the Semenyih, Sungai Labu and Langat treatment plants.

Meanwhile, Kota Raja 4B Youth Movement, represented by its chairman Muhd Ali Zakariah presented 200 water containers to residents at Apartment Klang Jaya today. ― Bernama