Photo: KK SHAM/The Star
The coloured water in Sungai Kapar Kechil on June 18 has been traced to a plastic recycling factory and liquid latex storage facility at Jalan Kapar, Klang.
Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin (pic), in a statement, said an investigation by Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) on July 6 uncovered suspicious activity at a premises in Batu 8 Industrial Area near the river.
The statement said Luas suspected that a pump found at the factory was being used to discharge effluent from its pond into the river.
“Further checks also revealed that two additional pumps were used at the premises to extract river water without authorisation.
“Luas has instructed the facility to cease using the pumps.
“Samples taken from several spots around the premises were sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis and further action.
“Luas has opened an investigation paper under Section 79(4) of Luas Enactment 1999 for polluting water sources and under Section 107(b) of the same law for the unauthorised extraction of water,” she said.
A follow-up investigation on July 8 pointed to another premises that was believed to have contributed to the pollution.
She said an inspection of the liquid latex storage facility revealed a leak in the outlet cover of an intermediate bulk container (IBC) tank storing blue-coloured latex used in glove manufacturing.
“The premises did not have a containment pond to manage the flow of the coloured liquid waste, which had flowed into the facility’s drainage system, then into a nearby ditch and eventually into Sungai Kapar Kechil.
“Luas issued a directive under Section 121(1) of Luas Enactment 1999, instructing the facility to halt and seal the flow immediately, and to carry out clean-up works at all affected areas within the premises.
“Luas also conducted water sampling and the samples have been sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis,” she said.
Jamaliah said Luas has also opened an investigation paper against the facility under Section 79(4) of Luas Enactment 1999 for polluting a water source.
