463 areas in Selangor, Putrajaya face water cuts due to odour pollution at Sg Rinching

KLANG: Odour pollution and foam in the water that was detected at Kampung Sungai Rinching Tengah, Semenyih is expected to cause water disruption to around 463 areas in Selangor and Putrajaya.

Selangor tourism and environment committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said an initial investigation from Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) found foam at 8.45am on Dec 15, on the Sungai Rinching stream that is a river tributary of Sungai Semenyih.

“A more detailed investigation is being carried out on the incident. We have Kajang Municipal Council and the Department of Environment (JAS) doing the necessary inspection and the outcome of the initial investigations have pointed to a flow of water from a drain outlet near a factory premises close to Kesuma Beranang Phase 7,” he said.

Operations at the Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant had to cease earlier today, according to Air Selangor, where it has affected Sepang (194 areas), Petaling (172), Hulu Langat (54), Putrajaya (23) and Kuala Langat (20).

In a proactive measure, Air Selangor has activated the emergency response plan to provide emergency water supply assistance to the affected consumers by sending out 81 water tankers to the affected areas.

Air Selangor will provide updates from time to time through all official communication channels, such as the Air Selangor app, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“LUAS investigations had found that a food manufacturer had released the bubbly effluents into the drain that flows into Sungai Rinching stream where Kajang Municipal Council and JAS have gone into the

premises to conduct further investigations”, said Hee.

“Samples of the effluent at the drain has been taken and would be sent to the Department of Chemistry Malaysia to be verified while the Kajang Municipal Council has issued compounds to the factory owners for causing the pollution,” he said.

Hee added that LUAS initial checks showed there were no effluents further down the drain closer to the factory.

The public can also call the Air Selangor Contact Centre at 15300.