By Alang Bendahara
SHAH ALAM, March 18 — Selangor has identified several solutions to ensure its water treatment plants (WTPs) can continue to operate whenever floods occur.
State executive councillor for the environment and climate change Hee Loy Sian said the floods on December 18 last year forced the shutdown of the WTPs at Cheras Batu 11, Sungai Langat and Langat 2.
“The shutdown of Cheras Batu 11 and Sungai Langat WTPs between December 18 to December 21 was due to floods that submerged the plants’ raw water pumping stations.
“On top of that, the water intake at the Sungai Langat WTP was filled with garbage that resulted in it being unable to operate at full capacity, due to the limitations posed by the intake’s design constraints.
“On the Langat 2 WTP, its water intake at Semantan in Pahang was suspended on December 19 from 7.15am to 10.30pm, due to the power supply shutdown by TNB caused by floods in the Karak area,” he told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting here earlier today.
Hee was answering on behalf of state executive councillor for Infrastructure and public amenities Izham Hashim, who could not attend today’s session.
This was in response to a query by Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze, who asked about the causes of the Cheras Batu 11, Langat 2 and Sungai Langat WTPs shut down, and any solutions to prevent it from recurring.
The councillor added Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) has since identified several short term and long term solutions for the issue.
“First is the installation of a standby motor unit and starter panel. The second is to change the position of the starter panel to a higher location and study the suitability of using pumps from the vertical drive type that can prevent the motor from being submerged in water.
“In the long-term, Air Selangor will consider appointing a consulting engineer to re-evaluate the design of the existing water intake and study the need to improve all high-risk water treatment plants to handle floods situation,” he said.
Hee said the involvement of all stakeholders, including the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas), Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) as well as local authorities, is crucial to achieving a comprehensive solution by taking into account the studies and work that have been or are being implemented by all parties.
