By Jerry Choong
SHAH ALAM, Feb 12 — After a four-hour-long unscheduled stop to their operations, the Rantau Panjang, Sungai Selangor Phase 1 (SSP1), Sungai Selangor Phase 2 (SSP2), and Sungai Selangor Phase 3 (SSP3) water treatment plants (WTP) resumed their operations in the early hours of the morning.
State executive councillor for the environment Hee Loy Sian said the intake for the Rantau Panjang WTP began to channel in raw water by 1.30am. For the SSP1, SSP2, and SSP3 WTPs, their intakes began channelling raw water by 2.15am.
“The WTPs temporarily ceased operations at 9.45pm yesterday, after a diesel-like odour was detected at all four intakes. Operations resumed when a Threshold Odour Number of zero was recorded after three readings were taken.
“Closing both the intakes and WTPs was necessary as a form of control and prevention to prevent potential pollution from worsening and affecting the plants,” he said in a statement.
Hee added the pollution problem was immediately brought under control by channelling approximately 836 million litres of raw water from the Hybrid Off River Augmentation Storage (Horas) 600 reservoir and the KL Larut alternative pond, beginning at 10pm yesterday.
“This proactive move was to increase the river’s dilution and the polluted flow, past the intake immediately. An immediate investigation by the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) along Sungai Selangor determined the source of the pollution was due to an oil spill from heavy machinery activities (diesel).
“The source was located on the banks of Sungai Selangor some three kilometres away from the nearest water intake at the Rantau Panjang WTP. Luas took instant action by placing three oil booms and three boxes of oil pads, as well as raising the bunds along the river banks to prevent the oil spill from flowing into the river,” he said.
At the same time, the owner of the site where the pollution occurred moved the machinery and carried out cleaning activities per Luas’ instruction.
“Further investigations are being carried out to ensure this problem will be fully resolved on the field. Luas has also conducted sampling activities for any further action within a legal framework,” Hee said.
In a separate statement, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd said the water supply began to be distributed in stages at 6.30am today. Water tankers have been mobilised to provide assistance during this period of unscheduled water disruption.
The unscheduled water disruption has affected approximately 1,037 areas in the districts of Petaling, Gombak, Klang, Hulu Selangor, and Kuala Langat, as well as areas around Shah Alam.
