JOHOR BARU: Everyone affected by the major water disruption will have their supply restored by midnight today, assures Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He noted that while the pumps have been fixed and supply is being restored in stages, some households have been without water for three days.

"I hope all the water disruption can be resolved by tonight and everyone in Johor Baru will have water," he said at a Madani Rakyat youth event on Friday (May 23).

Onn Hafiz also mentioned that he has discussed the state’s water issues with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was in the state for two days.

Meanwhile, Ranhill SAJ Chief Operating Officer Khairul Effendy Tusam reported that water restoration began following a freshwater leak at the Sg Johor water treatment plant on Tuesday (May 23).

"The water cuts have affected some 150,000 account holders in Johor Baru and Iskandar Puteri. As of 4pm today, about 34,000 account holders were still affected," he said, noting that they have achieved 78% resumption of supply.

He explained that some homes remain without water due to their distance from the plants and complex piping systems.

"We have also distributed at least 12,000 cartons of mineral water to targeted areas, especially religious places and apartments since Thursday," he said, adding that a contingency plan has been activated to send water via 42 tankers to assist those affected.

He added that 61 mobile tanks have been placed at strategic locations for people to draw water.

"This disruption occurred due to an unexpected fault at the main pump which channels treated water to the treatment plant in Kota Tinggi," he said, adding that the fault caused a disruption of 318 million litres of treated water per day to those in Johor Baru and Iskandar Puteri.