LANGKAWI: A waqf (endowment) tube well at Masjid Al-Hana here, which began operating in August, has been the primary source of clean water supply for residents of Kuah town over the past week.
The residents on the island were affected by water supply disruptions due to the dry spell brought by the El Nino phenomenon.
A resident Azmi Mansor, 58, said he had to commute for 8km to transport water from the tube well to his home in Taman Rima Emas here for daily usage.
"The water supply disruption to my residential area have been getting even more critical over the past three days, so I have to transport water using barrels and recycled bottles.
"There used to be water supply disruptions, but we were still getting the supply from Sada (Syarikat Air Darul Aman) during the evening and early morning. But for the past three days, the tap has ran dry," he said.
Rohizan Rosman, 48, from Taman Nilam, who lives 10km from the mosque, said pressure was mounting on the residents as they were forced to look for alternative water sources to carry on with their daily routines.
"I got up as early as 3am hoping to collect water from the tap, but was left frustrated because there is no water. Thus, I have to get the water from the mosque's tube well
.
"As for drinking water, I have to buy bottled water, but that is not a sustainable solution for me as my income as a taxi driver is not fixed," he said.
An eatery operator in Kuah, Fakhrulrazi Abdullah, 51, also shared his frustration that he was forced to buy bottled water to run his stall since last week due to water supply disruptions between 10am until midnight daily.
"Yesterday, there was some low-pressure water supply running from the tap from 10am, but it completely stopped by noon until late evening.I was forced to use bottled water to prepare dishes at my eatery.
"I dread to think how to keep on running the eatery if the water supply disruptions are prolonged, especially by early next week as visitors will be arriving in numbers during the Chinese New Year's break," he said.
Meanwhile, hoteliers in Langkawi expressed their concern on the water supply disruptions onthe tourism island.
They were worried as the number of arrivals was expected to jump during the long school break beginning this Friday and the Chinese New Year festive this weekend.
Langkawi Dash Resort general manager Effendi Ramley said he was worried that things could get even worse if Sada had no contingency plan.
"The management of hotels in Pantai Chenang and Pantai Tengah are very worried since the daily water consumption will increase by several folds during the festive season and school break period.
"In fact, since early this week, a five-star hotel in Kuah has said itwasis facing water supply disruptions and was forced to use bottled waters to prepare meals," he said.
Adya Hotel Langkawi general manager Syed Muhammad Firdaus Syed Putra also shared the same sentiment.
He urged Sada to inform hoteliers beforehand if water supply on the island was deteriorating.
"If the situation is prolonged with room bookings reaching 60 per cent during the five days of the Chinese New Year festivities, we are worried that this will leave visitors with a bitter memory."
Last Wednesday, Sada issued an advice to Langkawi residents to use water wisely as the island was facing water supply disruption.
The state water concessionaire, in a statement, said it had identified nine locations, including tourist hotspots, on the island that were facing water supply disruptions due to El Nino.
The affected areas were Kuah town, Kisap, Kilim, Perana, Bayas, Ulu Melaka, Temoyong, Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah.
Sada said it was having difficulties to meet demand for treated water as the water level in Sungai Melaka in Langkawi was depleting due to the prolonged dry spell.