Air Selangor unable to estimate water recovery time

Safety concern: Air Selangor workers inspecting the water at the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant in Putrajaya. — CHAN TAK KONG/ The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Air Selangor will continue taking water samples every half an hour at its intake point until a reading of 0 TON (Threshold Odour Number) is recorded.

Only then can water supply be resumed, said its chief executive officer Suhaimi Kamaralzaman.

The firm was unable to determine the estimated water supply recovery period until the authorities were able to identify the exact source of pollution, he said.

“We need to ensure that the water is safe for consumers. At 12.30pm on Monday, the pollution level at the Sungai Semenyih treatment plant measured 9 TON while the Bukit Tampoi plant recorded 8 TON, ” he said at a press conference at the Sungai Semenyih plant.

Suhaimi said pollution detected at Sungai Batang Benar, about 20km from the Sungai Semenyih plant in Negri Sembilan, measured 18 TON.

Sungai Batang Benar is one of the river sources that flows into Sungai Semenyih, he said.

As a result of the unscheduled disruption, Air Selangor was unable to produce the 602 litres required daily to supply water to 309,867 account holders in 274 areas in Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang districts.

“It will take a long time for water supply to fully resume as the two treatment plants have been closed for more than 20 hours, ” he said, adding that it was the fourth time this year that supply was disrupted due to pollution.

Air Selangor had mobilised 64 water tankers for urgent need at hospitals, dialysis centres and schools, he said.

“The public can get alternative water supply via 14 static tankers, seven stations, nine local service centres and 10 public pipes, ” he said.

For updates and a list of alternative water supply locations, see Air Selangor’s social media sites or download the Air Selangor app in Google Play and Apps Store, or visit www.airselangor.com.

Earlier, Air Selangor said taps at premises in 274 areas in Selangor would stay dry as pollution levels were still high at raw water intake points near the Bukit Tampoi and Sungai Semenyih plants.

Consumers affected in Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang areas are advised to find alternative supply at designated public taps near Masjid Puchong Perdana, MPSJ depot, USJ 3A, Kompleks 3K, and Petronas Unikeb Bandar Baru Bangi, said Air Selangor head of corporate communications Elina Baseri.

Public taps are also available at Tangki Air Bandar Sg Emas, Masjid Al-Islah in Banting, Taman Gemilang public hall, as well as near Pekan Salak and Pekan Dengkil markets.

The Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi treatment plants were shutdown on Sunday after odour pollution was detected beyond permissible thresholds at the Sungai Semenyih plant.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the pollution source is believed to be from the Nilai industrial estate in Negri Sembilan.