KUALA LUMPUR – The Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) had carried out an extensive water treatment process at Sg Gong yesterday after discovering oil-like traces and smells in the river.
State Public Health and Environment executive councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the pollution was suspected to be caused by machinery maintenance premises in the Rawang industrial area based on sampling at the pollution’s endpoint and the premises.
“Around 12 diesel fuel tanks with a capacity of 17,000 litres each, which were used to fill lorries’ fuel tanks on the premises, were also found. Luas ordered the premises to halt their flow and carry out immediate cleaning.
“Luas immediately implemented early preventive measures by placing one oil boom on Sg Gong’s stream to trap the oil flow and increasing on-site monitoring to every 30 minutes,” she said in a statement.
Luas had also placed two more oil booms, 30 oil pads, and 15 bags of activated carbon (AC) onto the stream to prevent the polluted water from flowing downstream, Jamaliah added.
However, at about 10.30pm last night, Air Selangor detected an odour reading of 1 threshold odour number (TON) at the pump station of the Rantau Panjang treatment plant.
This occurred as the polluted water had partially escaped before the implementation of control measures.
“Luas promptly initiated the pumping of raw water from the Larut and Hang Tuah alternative sources, totalling 534 million litres per day, to enhance the dilution rate in the river.
“Luas also coordinated the opening of Sg Gong’s barrage to expedite the flow of polluted water past the Rantau Panjang plant’s pump station.
After implementing the measures, Luas recorded three odour readings, all registering zero tons, and the raw water was then redirected back into the plant at about 12.30am.
Meanwhile, oil waste suction and cleaning procedures were completed by 2.30am, involving the disposal of four drums and two Immediate Bulk Container (IBC) tanks of waste, she said.
No water disruptions or closures of Selangor’s main water treatment plants – SSP1, SSP2, and SSP3 – were reported, Jamilah added.
Subsequently, Jamaliah said that Luas opened investigation papers under Section 79(1) of the Luas Enactment 1999 for further enforcement action against the involved parties. The Selayang Municipal Council will similarly take action within its jurisdiction.
“The Selangor government and Luas will not compromise with any party that commits the crime of water resource pollution, and strict action will be taken under the Luas Enactment 1999,” she said. – January 26, 2024