Water disruptions in Salmiya: An ongoing dilemma for residents

By Ricky Laxa
Staff Writer

Residents of Blocks 9 and 10 in Salmiya are currently facing an unprecedented crisis, as prolonged water supply outages have become a persistent problem affecting their daily lives. The situation has escalated to the point where many residents are forced to seek alternative solutions, significantly disrupting their routines and overall quality of life.

With water supply outages lasting for long hours, families have been scrambling to find adequate filtered drinking water and other essential needs. Purchasing water containers and bottled water has become a necessity, leading to increased expenses that many residents were not prepared for.

Furthermore, relying on these alternatives poses inconvenience and logistical challenges, particularly for families with young children or elderly members. The emotional toll this disruptive situation takes adds to the already challenging circumstances faced by residents.

Compounding the frustration, many residents have reported unresponsive caretakers in their buildings. When they do reach out for assistance, they often receive little more than empty promises or vague timelines regarding the restoration of water supply.

The lack of accountability from building management only aggravates the residents’ feeling of helplessness. One frustrated resident shared, “I have called the hotline and they asked for my personal information including building location, and promised to report the incident to proper authorities. Building caretaker mentioned that officials came to check yet provided no sufficient information as to resolution of the problem”. This sentiment resonates with many who feel their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

Moreover, there have been instances where building caretakers have attempted to provide some relief by offering water tank refills. However, residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with this partial solution, pointing out that the supply is insufficient for the needs of a building housing more than 200 residents.

As one complainant questioned, “How can the building management provide one water tank to a building with more than 200 residents?” This further highlights the inadequacy of the current response to an issue that affects so many people in the area.

Residents of Blocks 9 and 10 are currently trapped in a cycle of uncertainty regarding the status of their water supply, they are calling out for immediate intervention from the responsible department.

The lack of clear communication or effective action from authorities has left many feeling frustrated and abandoned. Residents urge those in charge to treat this crisis with urgency, understanding that access to water is a basic human necessity that should not be compromised.

The residents of these blocks deserve better — better communication, better management, and, most importantly, reliable access to one of life’s most essential resources: water. Without prompt and effective action, the ongoing disruptions threaten not only the well-being of families but the overall integrity of the community as a whole. In the face of such challenges, residents are hopeful that their voices will be heard and that solutions will soon follow.