The government has plans to build new water treatment plants to address low water reserves that are causing frequent supply disruptions, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said.
Nik Nazmi said the government was looking into increasing the number of water treatment plants in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur so that the water supply would not be disrupted every time a treatment plant is contaminated.
“There is a water shortage in the Klang Valley throughout the year and not only during dry spells.
“The rapid development in Selangor has increased the demand for water.
“So, we have plans in the pipeline to build a few more water treatment plants to greatly enhance the reserve margins for water supply for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,” Nik Nazmi said, adding that the new plants would be in varying sizes and capacities.
Non-revenue water, which he said is treated water for consumption but lost owing to issues like burst pipes, also contributed to the water shortage.
The recent water supply disruptions in the Klang Valley were to accommodate the treatment of contamination in four water treatment plants servicing Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
About 2,000 areas were affected by the unscheduled water disruptions over the past three months and these were due to incidents that polluted the water supply rivers.
A perfumed oil spillage had caused the Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi Water Treatment Plants (LRA) to shut down twice – in December and January.
A diesel spill from heavy machinery found on the Sungai Selangor river bank was the reason behind the latest water cut to many houses on Feb 12.
Nik Nazmi said with more immediacy, local law enforcement agencies had stepped up enforcement and he had proposed heftier fines, which would be tabled in Parliament in June.
He has proposed increasing penalties on those who pollute raw water sources by 100-fold above the current amount.
Nik Nazmi told Parliament last week that one amendment to the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) proposes the maximum fine to be set at RM10 million, compared to the current penalty of RM100,000.
Japanese Technology clinched name in Book of Records
Nik was speaking to reporters today after launching the Langat Eko Park Centralised Sewage Treatment Plant at Podium Taman Eko Langat, Kampung Sungai Balak in Kajang (picture above).
The plant, approved under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10th MP), costs RM1.595 billion and covers a catchment area of 77.6 square kilometres.
Department of Sewage Services director Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah said the project involved the decommissioning and demolition of 152 small sewage treatment plants located in the Langat River basin catchment area.
Wan Abdul Rahim said sewage from these plants has been connected to a new sewerage pipe network to be treated at the Langat Centralised Sewage Treatment Plant.
“The plant was constructed in collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which introduced a technology using the Deep Aeration concept to accommodate the maximum capacity of a 920,000-equivalent population for the three drainage catchment areas.
“This technology helped us save RM700 million and provide savings in terms of expenditure on future operations and maintenance costs,” he explained.
Wan Abdul Rahim said the plant was entered into the Malaysia Book of Records in 2019 as the Longest Microtunneling Curvature DN1800 in Malaysia.
The tunnelling with a distance of 725 metres runs across the Silk Highway in Cheras Jaya.
He said the contractor, MMC Corporation Berhad, also recorded a success of 13.5 million No Lost Time Injury (Lost Time Injury).
Return to community concept
Nik Nazmi explained in his speech that the plant adopted a “return to community” concept.
“It is equipped with leisure and recreation facilities, sports and a community centre known as the Langat Eco Park for nearby residents of Kampung Sungai Balak and also for the residents around Cheras-Kajang.
“There are a community centre, a multipurpose hall, an air-conditioned badminton hall with 16 courts, two futsal courts, a basketball court, a takraw court and a playground in the park.
“These facilities are part of the ‘local buy-in’ concept and are expected to open to the public in June 2023,” he said.
Nik Nazmi explained that the facilities and the sewage plant would be well maintained and at an optimal level, and the operation of this plant would be taken over by Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd. - Mkini
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