By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Nov 23 — The water quality in the Sungai Buloh river basin has improved this year, turning from polluted to slightly polluted, said state executive councillor for the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
She said in 2022, the river basin recorded a water quality index (WQI) of between 51 and 54, which is considered polluted.
“As we are not yet at the end of the year, we do not have the official record for 2023. But as of July, I can say the Sungai Buloh river basin’s water quality has improved to slightly polluted,” Jamaliah said during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session today.
She noted that last year, only the Sungai Klang river basin was classified as slightly polluted, with WQI readings ranging between 64 and 77.
From 2018 to 2022, five river basins in Selangor have been categorised as clean.
They are Sungai Selangor, Sungai Langat, Sungai Tengi, Sungai Sepang, and Sungai Bernam.
“Sungai Selangor and Sungai Langat are the primary river basins responsible for supplying over 90 per cent of the water sources to residents in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya,” Jamaliah said.
On April 19 this year, former state executive councillor for environment Hee Loy Sian said the state government is looking to control the Sungai Buloh river basin’s pollution via a comprehensive plan, following a media report on its poor conditions which resulted in the disruption and stunting of mussel growth.
He said the poor water quality is largely due to rapid development in surrounding areas, involving various economic sectors like industrial, commercial, housing, animal husbandry, and aquaculture activities.
Among the measures taken to address the issue include conducting a periodical sanitation study of the river, developing the Sungai Buloh Action Plan, implementing control for the entry and release of pollutants, controlling activities involving rivers and water bodies, and developing the Sungai Buloh Integrated River Basin Management Plan 2021.
