KUALA LUMPUR: Many Selangor residents affected by the unscheduled water cut have chosen to eat out, but eateries are struggling to cope too.
Air Selangor said water supply had to be disrupted in more than 1,000 areas in the state due to odour pollution in Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah.
Workers of Siti Bistro in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, had to wrap plates with plastic covers as they did not have enough water to wash dishes.
Khaled Mohamed, 33, said the eatery's workers would keep serving customers despite the water trouble.
"We need water for cooking, cleaning and sanitation. We have to use plastic covers on plates to save water for making drinks, cooking and washing utensils.
"We can't offer the full menu and we can't maintain our cleanliness. These are crucial for customer satisfaction and complying with health regulations," he told the New Straits Times.
Customer Meor Amir Faruqi Ahmad, 26, said he had to wash his face with bottled mineral water this morning.
He said he felt uncomfortable going to work as he could not clean himself properly.
"I woke up this morning hoping that the water supply would be back.
"Unfortunately, I had to use the mineral water I bought yesterday to wash my face to wake myself up.
"I came here to eat because I couldn't cook at home."
At Pusat Komersial Seksyen 7, Nazma Abdul Razak, 36, said she could not prepare breakfast and lunch before work like she used to.
"Without water, I can't cook or wash myself. I already used up two bottles of water for the toilet.
"If I buy mineral water, it would be difficult to carry them upstairs.
"If this continues, I will have to ask to be allowed to work from home. I will stay at my friend's place."
Nadirah Nazreen, 21, who works at a convenience store in Seksyen 22, Petaling Jaya, said she learnt about the unscheduled water cut when customers started buying mineral water yesterday.
"Yesterday evening, customers were buying a lot of mineral water.
"One of them told me the water supply in the area had been cut. Then more people came to buy mineral water. Now we're out of stock."
Resident Thegavathy Selvaraju, 60, said she could not give her two grandchildren a bath since the water supply stopped yesterday.
"My grandchildren are 2 and 3 years old. Since the water supply stopped yesterday, I can't give them a bath or wash them after they go to the toilet.
"Adults in the house could not shower since yesterday evening. Today, we brushed our teeth and washed our face with water from the fridge."
She said her family ate at a restaurant last night as she could not cook.
Petaling Jaya resident Thoo Yuit Ngoh, 75, said her family had been eating out since the water disruption began.
"Luckily, we have two water tanks at home. We are using the water for the toilet sparingly.
"We decided not to cook so that we don't have to wash utensils and dishes."