Pollution in Muar river disrupts water supply to 35k households

Water supply to 35,000 households in the Muar district has been disrupted after a high level of ammonia was detected in the Muar river.

State International Trade, Investment and Utilities Committee chairperson Jimmy Puah Wee Tse He said the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) and Ranhill SAJ would be meeting this afternoon to look into ways to restore full supply to the affected areas.

"Further updates will be given after this afternoon’s meeting. At this moment, the situation has stabilised. I hope all users can bear with the situation and we will work round the clock to ensure full recovery (in supply) to the affected areas,” he told Bernama via Whatsapp this morning.

He said the state government is still investigating the cause and source of the contamination, which was detected yesterday.

Ranhill SAJ said the water supply from the Panchor 3 water treatment plant had been reduced by 20 percent due to the declining quality of raw water from the Muar river.

"Investigation shows that the ammonia level was above 2.5ppm (parts per million), therefore disrupting Panchor 3 water treatment plant’s operation, as it cannot operate at the maximum level," the water services operator said in a statement on its website last night.

Among the affected areas were Pekan Bakri, New Village Bakri, Parit Hj Zin, Parit Hj Nor, Bakri Industrial area and Jalan Air Hitam.

- Bernama