HULU SELANGOR: The odour pollution that caused four water treatment plants to be shutdown was caused by an oil-based waste, believed to have been disposed upstream from Sungai Selangor; one of the main sources for clean water for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The pollution resulted in a complete shutdown of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 Water Treatment plants as well as the Rantau Panjang Treatment plant downstream.
The cause of the pollution came to light when Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) investigators found a layer of oil-based waste in the inlet of the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) treatment plant at Batang Kali at 7am today.
Selangor Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian who revealed this said that IWK had to then close the inlet around 9am for cleaning works which was completed at 5pm.
“It also affected the filtration process at the plant as it emitted odour when the water was treated and released to Sungai Liam.
“We believe that the oil-based waste was dumped from a nearby industrial area and came from a car workshop,” he said after visiting the IWK treatment plant there.
Present were Kuala Kubu Bharu assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong, LUAS acting director Haslina Amer and IWK Southern district operations head Mohd Taufik Salleh.
Hee further said that there were six tonnes of active carbon used by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SYABAS) in the area to reduce the levels of pollutants emitted.
It was earlier reported that more than 1 million ratepayers in the two states would be affected by disruptions to their water supplies due to this odour pollution.
“IWK is now sucking the oil out and the cleaning works are to be completed at 5pm,” he told the press.
Hee said that the authorities were also in the midst of putting their heads together to identify the culprit so that it can level the full force of the law against them.
“We believe that this was done one off so it's going to be hard to identify who did it but further investigations are being done.”
As of press time water has been restored to 60 per cent of the 1.2 account ratepayers affected following the reopening of the plants.
Water supplies are expected to be fully restored in the seven districts affected (including Kuala Lumpur) from tomorrow afternoon to Wednesday afternoon.
Air Selangor Customer Relationship and Communications Department head Abdul Raof Ahmad earlier said that tankers shall continue to be mobilised to affected areas.
“Given that the scale of the affected area is large, we have activated Local Service Centres and Public Water Taps in several locations as stated. Additionally, we will distribute 18,000 units of 5-litre bottled water to customers in multi-storey residences.
“We are stepping-up our efforts to stabilise flow and pressure in the distribution system and expedite water supply restoration process to all areas. Customers' cooperation throughout the restoration period is highly appreciated. Customers in areas that have recovered and have received supply are required to use water sparingly and avoid wastage.”
For further details and latest status, check the Air Selangor mobile app or go to www.syabas.com.my, “Air Selangor” Facebook and Twitter @airselangor. Updates will be provided from time to time.