AUTHORITIES prying open steel covers during Ops Mutiara – a three-day joint enforcement operation by National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) – uncovered severely neglected individual septic tanks (IST) choked with years of accumulated sludge, grease and faecal waste.
Many premises owners were unaware of their underground systems and maintenance obligations.
“I didn’t even know there was a septic tank under my kitchen until the officers showed me.
“I thought everything just flowed into the sewer system,” said one retired homeowner, adding that he would gladly pay for the service.
Similarly, a shoplot tenant expressed shock during the inspection.
“The smell was terrible and I didn’t realise there was so much waste inside.
“Nobody told me there was a septic tank that needed maintenance when I began renting this property.”
The issue is widespread. SPAN data showed there are more than 1.38 million individual septic tanks across Peninsular Malaysia, including 15,049 in Penang alone.
SPAN operations executive director Jalaludin Sulaiman said public awareness remains “very low”, with nationwide compliance rates standing at just 12%, and 18% in Penang.
“Individual septic tanks installed at homes must be desludged at least once every two years or maintained according to the required standards,” he said.
Jalaludin warned that neglected systems overflow and release untreated wastewater into drains, causing environmental contamination and public health risks.
Domestic septic tanks cost a subsidised RM192 to desludge once every two years, while commercial charges range from RM250 to RM500 depending on tank size.
IWK is targeting an acceptance rate of between 20% and 30% this year among owners issued desludging notices.
IWK chief operating officer Mohd Taufiq Salleh emphasised that the utility’s focus is on environmental protection and compliance with the Water Services Industry (Desludging Services) Regulations 2021, rather than revenue.
“Even though the domestic desludging fee of RM192 once every two years is still subsidised, the take-up rate remains very low,” he said, noting that the resulting discharge of untreated wastewater into rivers is a grave concern.
Property owners face strict legal consequences for non- compliance.
Under Section 65(1)(c) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655), failure to maintain a septic tank through a licensed provider carries a fine of up to RM50,000 upon conviction.
Section 66(1)(a) provides that poorly maintained private systems causing a nuisance or health hazard risk a fine of up to RM50,000, up to six months’ imprisonment or both.
