Muscat: Three Omani governorates have faced four consecutive days of interruption in water supply on Sunday due to technical problems at Sohar desalinating plant.
The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) said in a statement that sufficient water will be provided soon to the residents of Liwa, Khaboura and Buraimi provinces to cover the shortage. But many other parts of Saham, Barka, Musanah, Shinas and Rustaq provinces did not have water on Sunday, according to residents.
It explained that the company owns the plant managed to repair the pumps that draw water from the sea and called on residents of those areas who want to get water in those affected governorates to ring the call centre (1442) that works for 24 hours.
Oman’s Royal Armed forces provided tens of water tanks for the residents of those affected areas.
Omanis launched a hastag “My house is without water” expressed their resentment over the acute shortage in the water supplies in four governorates.
Ahmed Al Saadi, tweeted that the shortage in water supplies is a big problem and those responsible of that should be held accountable.
Such water disruption has affected more than 250,000 people in those governorates.
Meanwhile, residents of South Batinah, North Batinah and Buraimi governorates expressed their resentment over the water disruption amid the souring temperatures and scorching sun.
“We are without water for three days now. PAEW officials should be held accountable for that,” said Mohammad Al Zadjali, Suwaiq resident. Al Zadjali added that he didn’t take a shower for three days now, as the water in the house run out.
Many other residents also suffer from the shortage in the water tankers to buy water.
Naser Al Salmi, Musanah resident, said that he called water tanker owner but to no avail, as the tanker owner refused to bring water for him using the long distance to his house as an excuse.
Al Salmi added that he has three sons and a wife, with no water in the house.
Similarly, Ahmad Al Balushi, Barka resident, told Gulf News that he had to pay OMR15 (Dh143) to the greedy water tanker owner. The average price per tanker is between OMR4 and OMR6.
“Tanker owners take advantage of water disruption every time, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection should put an end to that,” said Al Balushi.
Moreover, water bottles ran out from the shelves of shops in some provinces as many flocked to these shops and buy water supplies for their families.
Rashid Al Hamadi, grocery store owner, told Gulf News that his shop run out of water bottles on Friday as many rushed and bought all the water from the shop.
“I have to order some water cartons from Muscat to meet the demands of the customers,” said Al Hamadi.
Businesses like coffee shops, restaurants and apartments hotels were also affected from water disruption in those areas.
This is not the first time Oman facing water disruption, when parts of Muscat areas faced two days for water disruption last February.
The longest water disruption Oman has witnessed took place in 2007 when Cyclone Gonu lashed Oman that affected many areas in Muscat for more than two weeks.
