River pollutant still a mystery for now

Authorities zero in on Semenyih industrial areas

PETALING JAYA: The Semenyih river reeks of “industrial glue” and authorities are still trying to identify the compound that has polluted the water over the weekend, with officials hoping to fix the problem by tomorrow.

“Heads will roll when we finally find the polluters,” said Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong.

Wong, who is in charge of Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs, hoped authorities would impose the maximum penalty on the polluter.

“The state government will revoke the licence and close the facility of the culprit too.

“We will have zero compromise or tolerance,” she said, following water cuts that left about one million consumers with limited water over the weekend after the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant had to be shut down due to the pollution.

The culprits could face a maximum fine of RM150,000 or a seven-year jail term or both, if convicted under Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Selangor Waters Management Authority Enactment 1999.

Wong said officials were zeroing in on the Semenyih industrial areas that might have been responsible for the dumping of the compound.

“We just installed an activated carbon facility at the plant to get rid of the odour, but it didn’t work.

“We don’t know what it is. Acid, ammonia and oil, we know. But this is something we have never seen before,” she added.

Syabas reported that water supply would be fully restored to the entire state in stages by tomorrow.

Until then, Kumpulan Air Selangor Corporate Communications Department head Amin Lin Abdullah said relief supplies would still be sent by tankers to consumers who were still experiencing water cuts.

“Consumers can get the latest water supply status via the mySYABAS smartphone application and at www.syabas.com.my,” he said in a statement.

As of 2pm yesterday, water in Sepang and Kuala Langat, the areas closest to the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant, had 99.6% and 97% water restoration.

Petaling and Hulu Langat had 71% and 79% of its water supply returned, Syabas said.

Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) president S. Piarapakaran called on the state government to have a more efficient way of investigating and pinpointing culprits after seeing pollution in the river happen “year on year”.

“We will probably have it happen again next year,” he said.