SHAH ALAM: The malodourous effluent polluting Sungai Selangor has been traced to a machinery maintenance factory in Rawang, which was ordered shut by the authorities today.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government and relevant authorities have been working around-the-clock to address the water crisis, which has disrupted water supply to 1.2 million consumers in the Klang Valley.
"On the pollution which caused the (Sungai Selangor and Rantau Panjang) treatment plants to stop operating, the factory involved has been closed and sealed.
"Efforts to eliminate the pollution in water resources have been in full swing since yesterday (Thursday), without a break. This is to ensure clean and safe water (for all)," he posted on Twitter.
Amirudin shared that among efforts being made are the disbursement of charcoal powder (activated carbon) to reduce the odour pollution, the pumping of water from the Bestari Jaya Pond up to 400 JLH (litres/day), and the release of water from the Sungai Tinggi Dam for the purpose of 'flushing' and 'dilution' of the pollution.
He further wrote that as of now, 78 water tankers, 22 jumbo tankers, 54 static tanks, 18 local service centres, eight Public Water Taps and 23,000 bottles of five-litre drinking water have been distributed and deployed to help those affected.
"@Air_selangor will monitor the current situation," he tweeted.
Responding to a Twitter user's comment of: "For those polluters, please charge them in a court of law!," Amirudin briefly wrote: "It's under the jurisdiction of the A-G's Chambers".
On Thursday, state Environment, Green Technology, Science and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said a preliminary investigation by the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) found that the Rawang factory had failed to store oil waste according to conditions set.
He said this was apart from a smell of solvent detected flowing into the river from the premises.
Hee said the factory, which was directed to close as results of the investigation are awaited, is being closely monitoring by the Committee, Luas and relevant agencies.
He added that the factory had in the past been compounded RM60,000 for the same offence – but appears to have repeated the act.
The irresponsible factory operators caused an unscheduled water disruption in Kuala Lumpur and six districts in Selangor – Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.
The Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2 and 3 water treatment plants, as well as the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment plant, remain non-operational as pollution is still detected at the plants' intakes.
Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) corporate communication chief Elina Baseri had said the pollution measured 1 tonne as of 6.30am today.
She said the plants can only begin operations once the pollution level falls to zero tonnes.