Unidentified solvent behind odour pollution that forced water cuts

PETALING JAYA: An unidentified solvent is believed to be the source of the odour detected in Sungai Selangor on Thursday (Sept 3) morning resulting in an unscheduled water disruption in seven districts in the state.

Pengurusan Air Selangor said that investigations are currently underway involving several agencies including Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) to determine the nature and source of the pollution.

The investigation will zoom in on industrial premises near Sungai Gong, Air Selangor said in a statement Thursday (Sept 3), adding that Sungai Gong is a tributary of Sungai Sembah, which is the main tributary of Sungai Selangor located about 17km from the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plan that was affected.

Air Selangor added that LUAS has begun pumping 400 million litres of water from the Bestari Jaya pond and 500 million litres from the Sungai Tinggi Dam, while opening the Bestari Jaya river gate to help overcome the odour in Sungai Selangor.

The unscheduled water disruption is expected in some 1,200 areas in seven districts, namely Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/ Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat starting from 10am on Thursday.

This was due to the shutting down of four water treatment plants as pollution had been detected in Sungai Selangor on Thursday morning.

The plants affected are the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plan which was shut down at 7.15am, the Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plants Phase 1,2 and 3, which were shut down at 9am.

The list of impacted areas will be provided from time to time through Air Selangor’s communication medium, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Air Selangor mobile app and website at www.airselangor.com, said Air Selangor.