KUALA LUMPUR: At least five workers involved in the repair work on the Sungai Selangor water treatment plant in Ijok, Selangor were seriously injured when a surge vessel system at the plant exploded at 5pm today.
The incident is belived to have involved workers from both Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) and
Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor (SPLASH).
Syabas customer services and corporate communications department head, Abdul Raof Ahmad, said the incident took place just as the plant was about to be reactivated to resume operations, as the repair works had been completed ahead of schedule.
It is understood that there was a failure involving the surge system. Due to the system failure, two pipes, measuring 1.1-metres, burst.
He said National Water Services Commission (SPAN) representatives, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd as well as SPLASH staff were at the scene when the incident occurred.
The company said the workers were seriously injured. However, the nature of the injuries remain unknown at press time.
“SPLASH has already informed SPAN and the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) regarding the incident,” he said.
Abdul Raof said, as a result of the incident, there will be an extension to the expected recovery date for water supply to the affected areas in the Klang Valley. However, he did not say how long the period has been extended.
He said the company will keep the public informed on the status of the recovery works and will cooperate with SPLASH on the repair works.
He said water supply via lorry tankers will be deployed to the affected areas, and that its service centres will be operating round-the-clock until water supply goes back to normal.
The water supply disruption is believed to have affected 546,000 account holders in 498 areas.
Among the affected areas are Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Langat.