‘We warned them of plant conditions’

PUTRAJAYA: Water concessionaire Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor (Splash) has claimed that the Selangor government was notified numerous times on the long-standing overload issue at the Sungai Selangor Phase 3 water treatment plant, that resulted in last week’s breakdown that caused water disruptions in the state.

In a statement yesterday, Splash said the state government was warned that pumps at the plant were running beyond their capacities, with the risk of sudden breakdowns.

Since 2013, Splash had written several letters to the state government to highlight the problem.

“The fact that four pumps were under repair during the incident was inconsequential and totally unrelated to the incident or the operations of the plant,” the statement said.

It added that a main pipe has burst just as the plant was about to resume operations after successful completion of repair works on a damaged valve.

“This incident caused extensive structural damage to the system. The urgency of restoration was so critical that it required the immediate mobilisation of 50 workmen on site, working continuously around the clock.

“It involved the extensive use of equipment – two mobile cranes, three excavators and eight welding sets.”

Splash also said it provided regular progress updates to officials from the National Water Services Commission Malaysia (SPAN) and Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor), who were on site to help monitor the repair works.