PETALING JAYA: It will take at least four days for water supply to begin restoration, once the four water treatment plants that were shut down on Thursday begin operation, says Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Suhaimi Kamaralzaman.
Sungai Selangor’s Rantau Panjang Phases 1, 2 and 3 water treatment plants were turned off after recording odour pollution of three TON on Thursday, affecting 1.2 million account holders.
As at 2.30pm yesterday, the odour pollution was at one TON (Threshold Odour Number).
Suhaimi said the source of the pollutant was from the areas surrounding Sungai Gong, about 20.3km from the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant.
Air Selangor was pumping raw water into Sungai Selangor to dilute the pollutant.
Suhaimi explained that the minimum four days required for water supply restoration was based on simulation only.
“Once the water treatment plants have begun operations, we need to check on certain parameters including water levels at reservoirs before coming up with a schedule on when consumers can expect water to be restored in their respective areas.
“When water supply is being restored, I hope consumers will not store water excessively and be very careful with its usage to ensure all areas receive water as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference yesterday at the Air Selangor headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
To explain the magnitude of the problem, Suhaimi compared the current situation with two water disruptions that happened back-to-back in July due to pollution which caused the shutdown of the same four water treatment plants.
“The first incident of odour pollution on July 19 caused the water treatment plants to be shut down for five hours. It took 72 hours for the water supply to begin restoration. “The plants were shut down again on July 21 due to diesel contamination and were shut down for another five hours,” he said.
“Cumulatively, there was a 10-hour shutdown of the four water treatment plants. And the consumers who lived the farthest away from the water distribution centre did not have water supply for seven consecutive days,” he added.
Suhaimi said that the case is not typically comparable because consumers closest to the water distribution centre were beginning to receive supply when the second shutdown happened.
“Now, it has been more than 30 hours after the water treatment plants were shut down. The plants will only begin operation once the odour pollution hits zero TON, after three consecutive readings, taken at 30 minute intervals.
“My concern is that consumers understand the magnitude of the problem. This is a big problem. We are taking this very seriously. We are constantly monitoring the river.
“We will not take the water at odour pollution of one TON to process it, as it is not fair for consumers to get smelly water. The health and safety of our consumers are paramount to us. We hope the odour pollution will reach zero TON soon,” he said.
Suhaimi said the authorities need to understand the reason why people pollute the river.
“These factories are dealing with dangerous chemicals and pouring it into the drains.
“Hopefully, they go to jail. Before that, the authorities need to know why they polluted the river. Is it the cost factor of disposing it safely or is it because they couldn’t care less?
“The greatest minds have met countless times (on this matter) and this still happens, it frustrates me,” he said, adding that ideally such factories should never be allowed to operate near waterways.
At a separate press conference, Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Zaini Ujang said the ministry will be preparing to present amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which are expected to be tabled in Parliament.
“We will be looking beyond revoking their licences and fines, and seek an amendment for higher penalties and a broader range of offences,” he said.
“We have taken action on the suspected premises on Thursday and if found guilty the culprits will be ordered to bear the cost of the clean up.
“I have also informed the Attorney General about this to ensure that they are prosecuted quickly,” he said.
Sungai Selangor’s Rantau Panjang Phases 1, 2 and 3 water treatment plants were turned off after recording odour pollution of three TON on Thursday, affecting 1.2 million account holders.
As at 2.30pm yesterday, the odour pollution was at one TON (Threshold Odour Number).
Suhaimi said the source of the pollutant was from the areas surrounding Sungai Gong, about 20.3km from the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant.
Air Selangor was pumping raw water into Sungai Selangor to dilute the pollutant.
Suhaimi explained that the minimum four days required for water supply restoration was based on simulation only.
“Once the water treatment plants have begun operations, we need to check on certain parameters including water levels at reservoirs before coming up with a schedule on when consumers can expect water to be restored in their respective areas.
“When water supply is being restored, I hope consumers will not store water excessively and be very careful with its usage to ensure all areas receive water as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference yesterday at the Air Selangor headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
To explain the magnitude of the problem, Suhaimi compared the current situation with two water disruptions that happened back-to-back in July due to pollution which caused the shutdown of the same four water treatment plants.
“The first incident of odour pollution on July 19 caused the water treatment plants to be shut down for five hours. It took 72 hours for the water supply to begin restoration. “The plants were shut down again on July 21 due to diesel contamination and were shut down for another five hours,” he said.
“Cumulatively, there was a 10-hour shutdown of the four water treatment plants. And the consumers who lived the farthest away from the water distribution centre did not have water supply for seven consecutive days,” he added.
Suhaimi said that the case is not typically comparable because consumers closest to the water distribution centre were beginning to receive supply when the second shutdown happened.
“Now, it has been more than 30 hours after the water treatment plants were shut down. The plants will only begin operation once the odour pollution hits zero TON, after three consecutive readings, taken at 30 minute intervals.
“My concern is that consumers understand the magnitude of the problem. This is a big problem. We are taking this very seriously. We are constantly monitoring the river.
“We will not take the water at odour pollution of one TON to process it, as it is not fair for consumers to get smelly water. The health and safety of our consumers are paramount to us. We hope the odour pollution will reach zero TON soon,” he said.
Suhaimi said the authorities need to understand the reason why people pollute the river.
“These factories are dealing with dangerous chemicals and pouring it into the drains.
“Hopefully, they go to jail. Before that, the authorities need to know why they polluted the river. Is it the cost factor of disposing it safely or is it because they couldn’t care less?
“The greatest minds have met countless times (on this matter) and this still happens, it frustrates me,” he said, adding that ideally such factories should never be allowed to operate near waterways.
At a separate press conference, Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Zaini Ujang said the ministry will be preparing to present amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which are expected to be tabled in Parliament.
“We will be looking beyond revoking their licences and fines, and seek an amendment for higher penalties and a broader range of offences,” he said.
“We have taken action on the suspected premises on Thursday and if found guilty the culprits will be ordered to bear the cost of the clean up.
“I have also informed the Attorney General about this to ensure that they are prosecuted quickly,” he said.
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