The residents, who have yet to obtain Certificates of Fitness for their properties, claimed that water meters had not been installed and their daily routine had been heavily dependent on the water tanker sent by the developer, Rhombus Bina Sdn Bhd, every evening.

We didn't get water into first year. In the second year, the developer tried ,to supply us water through poly pipes but the water pressure was very low and it lasted only a few months, After that, we either received no water at all or we got it at odd hours like 1 am or 2am," said resident M. Suabramaniam, 33, who works as a project coordinator.

He said at times, when the water brought by the tankers was insufficient, the residents had to "steal" water from vacant houses in nearby areas, "We are squatters in our own homes, and we feel cheated," he added.

Suabramaniam said his health had deteriorated from having to carry heavy pails of water on a daily basis.

"Worse still, some of the residents try not to use their wash- rooms to keep their houses clean, their children urinate in vacant houses and empty their bowels at the nearby petrol station, so much so that the petrol station locks its toilet," he added.

Computer analyst Abdullah Mohamed, 38, said the cost of living was much higher than he had expected since he moved into the housing area because it was deprived of water.

"We have to eat out frequently because we can't cook we have to buy our own pails and water pumps and our cars are so much more prone to damage as we have to use the to transport water from elsewhere ,said the
father of our children aged between six and 10.

Teacher Ahmad Wali, 42, said life had been "dreadful" since he moved into the housing estate.

"We are normally tired after work and it is sad to think that we can hard relax at home because there is no water. Many a time we have to carry water as late as midnight," lamented Ahmad, who has three children aged between 10 and 14.

Beranang assemblyman Ahamad Kuris Mohd Noor when contacted, told residents to be patient as the reservoir and pump house in the area would be commissioned by the end of July and water meters would be ,installed by mid-July.
"This problem is basically caused by the Integrated Water Supply Scheme that is not successful yet. The scheme was imposed on 13 developers in Semenyih and Beranang by the government eight years go, but not all of them have successfully constructed pipelines and contributed towards water supply as required," Ahamd said.

He added that water was being supplied to the houses, but the volume was in insufficient.

Rhombus Bina general manager cum project manager Nee Say Ho denied the residents allegations, saying that the developer had been supplying water to the houses through a bulk meter, main pipe and poly pipes for free.

"The water pressure may be very low, especially over the last two weeks, but this problem is not only faced by us, but also other housing areas in Semenyih and Beranang," Nee said, adding that. they were currently con- ,ducting  test rounds on the, recently completed reservoir and pump house for Phase Two.

He declined to comment as to why the residents insisted that there had been no water supply for years. He also declined to explain the delay in the installation of water meters.

"I don't want to go back to the history again ,as action, has been taken to rectify this problem," he said.