By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Dec 6 — Prompt action by the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Plus Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) has prevented a potential pollution incident that could have resulted in the temporary shutdown of the state’s main water treatment plants (WTPs), due to an accident.
State executive councillor for environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) also took proactive action by examining the site to ensure no risks of contamination to nearby water sources.
In a statement, Jamaliah said PLUS reported an accident around 10.30pm yesterday involving a lorry carrying liquid latex that was travelling northbound on the PLUS Highway from Rawang to Sungai Buaya.
The vehicle was transporting 15 barrels of liquid latex, each weighing approximately one ton. One of the barrels ruptured during the accident, causing the liquid to spill onto the left and middle lanes of the highway.
“However, Rawang Bomba and PLUS have managed to control the liquid spill swiftly,” she said today.
“Upon arriving at the location, they promptly took control by placing wood chips and setting up barriers to prevent the spillage from entering the nearby drain.
“Luas, which arrived at the scene while the cleaning works were being carried out, conducted a thorough inspection to ensure there is no risk of contamination risks to the water sources.”
Jamaliah pointed out that the accident occurred close to Sungai Serendah, posing a potential risk of water source pollution through several streams that lead to the main river.
She said if the spillage was not immediately cleaned, it has the potential to impact the state’s main WTPs, namely the Rantau Panjang WTP, which is located 17.7km from the location, as well as the Sungai Selangor Phase (SSP) 1 (23.8km), SSP2 (23.8km) and SSP3 (23.4km).
“Bomba and PLUS spent five hours conducting cleanup works at the location and completed it at 3.40am,” she said.
