By Jerry Choong
SHAH ALAM, July 29 — Joint action by several government agencies including the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) prevented an accident from potentially disrupting the water supply after it polluted two nearby rivers and affected the operations of the Bukit Tampoi water treatment plant (WTP)
State executive councillor for the environment Hee Loy Sian said the pollution was detected after a road accident involving a lorry carrying palm oil and another lorry carrying a soil load that occurred at KM 36.8 northbound of the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.
“The incident caused the palm oil to spill, which entered a nearby drainage system that entered Sungai Semarang and subsequently Sungai Langat. The distances between both sites contaminated by the spill are very near the Bukit Tampoi WTP, some 700 metres away.
“Per the prevention and control steps, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) ceased the WTP’s operations to prevent the pollution from entering its system. Based on the records, no disruption to the water supply was reported by Air Selangor,” he said in a statement today.
In turn, Luas activated a Code Red per the Water Source Pollution Emergency Manual, for a comprehensive investigation to be carried out in the risky and affected area.
Hee added that ELITE’s operator PLUS Malaysia Berhad took early preventive measures by placing 25 bags of sawdust in the area and avoiding a worsening of the situation. On its part, Luas placed an oil pad box in the highway’s drain, preventing the oil waste from flowing directly into the river.
“Four oil booms in two different locations were also installed in the culvert drainage and after the drainage, to counter the oil waste from directly flowing into Sungai Semarang. Another oil boom was installed in Sungai Semarang, just before meeting Sungai Langat.
“The Sepang branch of the Environmental Department has instructed the palm oil factory premise to immediately carry out residual oil suction cleaning. The Bukit Tampoi is expected to reoperate after no traces of odour and oil were detected in the raw water sources,” he said.
Samples were taken by Luas in three different locations, including upstream, the highway drain, and downstream. The highway sample revealed the oil spill had accumulated in the drain, while the downstream sample indicated traces of residual oil along the edge of the drain’s walls.
“Luas continued its investigations and samplings upstream and downstream, as well as near the Bukit Tampoi WTP until 3.20am today. No traces of oil was detected at all sampling points.
“Luas has conducted its samplings, which will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis. The cleaning and suction works are still being carried out by the premise, with assistance from Luas via appointed contractors. Close monitoring from time to time will be carried out with the respective parties, to ensure Selangor’s water sources are preserved,” Hee said.
