JOHOR BARU, Aug 15 — Residents of Taman Johor Jaya especially those in the food business, are bracing for dry days starting from tomorrow.

Under the schedule being implemented after the water level at the Sungai Layang and Sungai Lebam dams dipped below the critical level, residents will receive water for a day followed by two dry days.

This has prompted many of the 200,000 residents to buy pails and mini water tank.

Syarikat Air Johor (SAJ) also plans to reschedule water supply to the Pasir Gudang and Masai areas using the same schedule from tomorrow.

SAJ, in a flyer distributed on Wednesday and a post on its Facebook page, said residents would have to save water on the days they received supply.

Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung said SAJ had not offered residents solutions for days with no supply.

“This is especially for those staying in high-rise flats and those in the food business. Will SAJ send out tankers and supply fresh water at designated areas and times?” she asked.

Liow said the rescheduling came as a shock to many.

She said authorities should have known about the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon, like prolonged dry spells.

“They should have taken steps to ensure adequate water. They should have also monitored the situation at the dams more closely,” she said.

Restaurant owner Mok Meng Hua, 31, said his shop needed at least 100 to 150 litres of water a day which he would not be able to store when the pipes go dry.

“With cooking, washing and operating from 6am to 3pm, I will be in trouble if there is no water supply for two days. To close on days when there is no tap water is also out of the question,” he said.

He has bought a 350 litre mini water tank and ordered another that will be delivered next week.

“The hardware shop owners told me such mini water tanks have been sold out. And pails, which can hold 30 litres of water, are also selling fast.

“People are anxious because they know they need to stock up,” said Mok.

A chicken rice seller, who wished to be known as Chai, depends on water supply from the coffee shop she operates from.

“If there is no water, how can I run my business?” she asked.

SAJ corporate communication head Jamaluddin Jamal said affected residents needed to conserve water.

“Water rescheduling is different from rationing. They will have water but need to prolong its use,” he said.

He said tankers would not be sent because there would be water available every third day.