The water cut is to enable the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) to replace valves at its Sungai Dua water treatment plant, as well as carry out preventive maintenance at 22 locations statewide.

Some 590,000 homes and businesses in Seberang Perai and Penang Island will be affected.

Kamilah Abdullah, who just opened her car wash outlet in Padang Lalang, Bukit Mertajam, two months ago said she would have to close for two days.

Even worse, she has been forced to postpone the opening of her second outlet in Taman Limau Manis to next Monday.

“I have to reopen as soon as possible to pay the rent (for the outlets) and to pay my two workers,” she said, adding that she expects to incur up to RM400 in losses for closing her business for two days.

Kamilah also said that she had only enough stored water for a day.

“If the (repair) works are finished sooner, we will be happy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chong Fook Sheng, 42, who owns an outlet in Taman Bukit, Bukit Mertajam, said that he would be closing tomorrow and Thursday.

“Even if there is water tomorrow, we won’t use it. Let other people use the water,” he told FMT.

Chong said he would reopen first thing on Friday, when supply is expected to recover in Seberang Perai Tengah, because he and his staff have to make a living.

He expects he will lose as much as RM700 for the two-day shutdown.

Another car wash outlet owner in Taman Bukit, Joel Lim, said he would likely lose RM2,000 over the next two days.

Lim said that even if his outlet had a water tank, it would only last for five car washes.

He hoped water would be restored according to the planned deadline.

“I understand that these repairs are necessary for our future needs. If they don’t do it now, who knows what will happen in future?”

Lim credited the state government for having given the people of Penang one month’s notice, which gave him plenty of time to prepare by giving his six workers leave, as well as focusing on other tasks.

Meanwhile, Faruq Mohammad, 50, who owns a car wash outlet in Taman Kuari, Bukit Mertajam, has a water tank and said he would close his business when it is empty.

He is unsure how long he would have to close, but said he would lose about RM1,000 if he shuts down for two days.

“We would like to ask for the problem to be resolved quickly. Everyone will be hoping for that,” he said.