PETALING JAYA: A crash involving a lorry transporting a load of perfume essence was the cause behind the water cuts that affected about 1.5 million folks in the Klang Valley on Christmas Eve.
The National Water Service Commission (Span) said the accident, which happened at KM44.1 (northbound) of the Elite Highway, caused the spilt load of perfume essence to flow into the watercourse, leading to odour pollution at the Jenderam Hilir Raw Water Pump Station intake.
The commission said the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Bukit Tampoi (WTP) had to be temporarily shut down starting from 2am on Saturday (Dec 24).
"This incident has caused supply disruption to 274 areas with an estimated 300,000 accounts (equivalent to around 1.5 million users).
"Water supply disruptions started at 7.00 this morning in five areas namely Petaling,
Hulu Langat, Sepang, Putrajaya and Kuala Langat," it said in a statement on Saturday (Dec 24).
All relevant agencies such as Span, the Environment Department, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) and Air Selangor have been on site to conduct investigations and work to control contaminated materials.
Span said Air Selangor had taken immediate action by lowering all the weir gates at the Jenderam Hilir Raw Water Pump Intake to ensure all the contaminated materials can be flushed downstream of Sungai Semenyih
The IWK has also been at the pollution site to carry out desludging as an immediate step to ensure pollution can be controlled immediately, said Span.
"At the same time, Air Selangor has mobilised water tank lorries to ensure continuity of water supply in affected areas, especially in public premises such as hospitals," it said.
Span added that the expected recovery time has not been ascertained as the raw water needs to be tested and must be at 0 ton (threshold odour number) level thrice.
As at 5pm Saturday (Dec 24), the ton recorded was 4, said Span.
ALSO READ: Water cut: Over 470 areas in Selangor affected due to odour pollution
"Further developments will be notified to users by Air Selangor from time to time," it said.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang is also present to supervise the site and the restoration work, said SPAN.
"He has proposed several recommendations to ensure that contaminated materials do not continue to spread and immediate recovery can be achieved," said Span.
His recommendation included roping in IWK to suck out all the excess perfume essence at the scene of the accident, using activated carbon to reduce the effect of smell to the raw water in Sungai Limau Manis and stopping the operations of Sg Semenyih WTP until the odour has disappeared.
Zaini also proposed releasing water from the Semenyih Dam to dilute the effects of perfumed liquid as well as regular monitoring of the upstream water quality of the Sg Semenyih WTP.
Users can get more information on the Air Selangor application, its social media or by contacting the Air Selangor Contact Centre at 15300.
