Heavy machinery maintenance plant polluted Sungai Semenyih WTP inlet

 

Subang Jaya residents filling their water containers at the public water tap at Persiaran Setia, Subang Jaya, following the Sungai Semenyih WTP pollution. - NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALI

SHAH ALAM: A heavy machinery maintenance factory is believed to be the source of pollution that occurred at the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant (Jenderam Hilir) inlet this morning.

State Tourism and Environment Exco Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said the factory was the likely source of the diesel-like odour traced at the water treatment plant inlet.

He said the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) was alerted about the pollution by Air Selangor at 8.45am before an investigation was launched to identify the pollution source.

He said LUAS' investigation found some oil effluent discharge mixed with water flowing to the culvert, and into Sungai Semenyih.

"LUAS activated the Code Yellow as required under the Water Resources Pollution Emergency Manual immediately after that, and a thorough investigation was mounted. Four carbon powder bags have been placed together with an oil boom to trap any remaining oil residue as a precaution," he said in a statement today.

Hee said some of the samples collected at the site have also been sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.

He added the pollution is estimated to have occured about 1.5km upstream from the Jenderam Hilir inlet.

"Swift action by the authorities helped to expedite the water supply recovery within four hours, or by 12.30pm today.

"The water was taken for sampling every hour and authorities will continue to closely monitor the situation.

"A police report has been lodged against the factory at the Section 15 police station and the Sepang Municipal Council is also expected to seal the premises," he added.

Hee said if convicted of the offence under Section 79 (1) of the LUAS Enactment 1999, the factory could face a minimum fine of RM200,000 or a maximum fine of up to RM1 million and imprisonment of not less than three years.

"This incident is separate from the one reported in Kampung Rinching Tengah, Semenyih, and that incident, too, was successfully dealt with by LUAS without causing any water disruption in the area." - NST