KUALA LUMPUR – The Selangor authorities have narrowed down the possible sources of pollution at the Sg Langat river basin, and a number of factories are being investigated over the incident.
These factories will be probed into by the Selangor State Water Resource Ops for potentially polluting state rivers, according to Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS).
State Environment, Green Technology, Tourism, and Indigenous Affairs executive councillor Hee Loy Sian said a number of premises along the upstream areas of the river are being investigated after LUAS detected white and foamy content flowing through Sg Kabul during its routine monitoring at 11.30am yesterday.
The discovery of the contamination is linked to the one in the Sg Langat basin, he said in a statement today.
The investigation is being conducted under section 79(1) of the LUAS Enactment 1999, which upon conviction carries a fine of between RM200,000 and RM1 million, and prison of no less than three years.
Hee said that no pollution was detected after sampling was conducted on the water. It was identified that the water conditions were normal, and no pollution odour was present at the scene.
Nonetheless, LUAS carried out further investigation into a factory premise used for supplying building materials and gardening equipment in Mahkota Industrial Park in Beranang, based on previous records and information.
Water of the same colour as Sg Kabul was also found by investigative teams inside the suspected premise.
Hee said that samplings taken at the discharge points and treatment pools of the premise were sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis.
At the same time, a follow-up investigation found an aluminium factory suspected of releasing foamy effluents into nearby drains. Similar sampling methods were conducted for analysis by the department.
Water treatment plants near the area of investigation will not cease operations, as reported by Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.
The facilities closest to the source of pollution are at Semenyih, Bukit Tampoi, and Labohan Dagang, which are estimated to be 17-km, 29-km, and 40-km away respectively.
Close monitoring will be conducted to ensure Selangor’s protected water sources, Hee said.
The operation is managed by LUAS, along with the support of the National Water Services Commission, the Environment Department, Kajang Municipal Council, and Air Selangor. – The Vibes, October 2, 2022
