Selangor Journal
Residents collect water supply from the static tanks provided at the Air Selangor local service centre in Section 4, Shah Alam, on September 4, 2020. — Picture by ASRI SAPFIE/SELANGORKINI

Continuous efforts taken to minimise impact of river pollution, water cut — MB

SHAH ALAM, Sept 4 — The Selangor Disaster Management Unit and several relevant state agencies, namely Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) and Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (Luas), are continuously working on the efforts in minimising the impact of the odour pollution detected in Sungai Selangor, which caused an unscheduled water disruption across the Klang Valley since yesterday morning.

In a statement today, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said assistance to areas affected by the water cuts has been stepped up with a total of 78 water tankers, 22 jumbo water tankers, 54 static tanks, 18 local service centres, eight public water taps and 23,000 5-litre drinking water bottles provided to the consumers.

“The state government’s priority is to ensure that the water supply would be fully restored to the residents and business premises as soon as possible.

“Every state assemblymen and councillors are urged to go to the affected areas as the frontliners during this water crisis. The needs of the people must be prioritised,” the statement read.

Amirudin said the pollution reading of the solvent released in Sungai Gong measured up to three TON (threshold odour number) and was traced at the intake of four water treatment plants that were forced to cease operations — Rantau Panjang, Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.

Sungai Gong is a tributary of Sungai Sembah, which is the main tributary of Sungai Selangor, located 17 kilometres from the Rantau Panjang Water Treatement Plant.

“Some 1,882 million litres of water a day from several different sources is being used in efforts to clear out the pollutants, which include 582 million litres a day from the Hybrid Off-River Augmentation System (Horas 600), 500 million litres a day from Sungai Selangor dam, and 800 million litres a day from Sungai Tinggi dam.

“Activated carbon is being added in the areas affected to reduce the smell of the pollutants while efforts to flush out the effluents is done by opening the river gate at the Sungai Selangor Phase 1 intake,” he said.

Amirudin said stern legal action will be taken against those who are responsible over the incident, adding that the state government “will not compromise.”

He said the factory believed to have caused the pollution has been issued a compound and investigation paper was issued immediately for prosecution.

Yesterday, a factory that provides the maintenance service of heavy machinery has been forced to temporarily shut down for causing the odour pollution in Sungai Selangor.

The factory was found to have been a repeat-offender and was previously issued a RM60,000 compound for the same offence.

The contamination of Sungai Selangor had resulted in an unscheduled water cut affecting 1.2 million consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.

The Rantau Panjang River Water Treatment Plant was forced to shut down at 7.15am yesterday, whereas Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 ceased operations at 9.00am.

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Editor Selangor Journal