By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Nov 24 — An organic carbon analyser device, or the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser, will be used as a method to detect the source of odour pollution in the Selangor rivers more quickly, says Izham Hashim.
The State Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Agricultural Modernisation and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman said until now, there is still no special device available apart from the human olfactory senses to detect odour pollution, which could cause the suspension of the water treatment plants in Selangor.
“A group of experts and I had previously discussed why we have yet to adopt a technology which can track odour and identify sources of pollution.
“Actually, there is the TOC device, which will be introduced as part of the surveillance system (to curb such incidents),” he said during the Bual Bicara talk show titled ‘Pencemaran Air: Siapa Buat Onar’ (Water pollution: Who is causing the interference?) broadcasted live on Media Selangor Facebook page yesterday night.
Izham explained that the TOC, which will be used for the first time, will be placed at a static spot in the river and will communicate with the control centre by sending in signals if a change in the organic composition of the water is detected.
“Usually, the odour that comes with the pollution originates from organic matters so we nip it from the source. InsyaAllah (God willing), after this we would be able to detect the source of pollution,” he said.
On November 10, the Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor Phase 1,2 and 3 Water Treatment Plants were forced to shut down following solvent-like odour pollution detected at Sungai Selangor.
The suspension resulted in an unscheduled water cut affecting 1.1 million account holders in 1,279 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.
The state administration had then instructed the immediate closure of 17 workshops around the premises that was mainly suspected to have polluted Sungai Selangor the following day.
State Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Agricultural Modernisation and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Izham Hashim speaking during the Media Selangor’s Bual Bicara Talk show titled ‘Pencemaran Air: Siapa Buat Onar’ broadcasted live on Facebook, on November 23, 2020. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/SELANGORKINI
