PETALING JAYA: Spilled perfume essence on the road has caused a massive stink for some 1.5 million people in the Klang Valley who ended up with dry taps amidst the festivities and holidays.
The National Water Service Commission (SPAN) said a crash involving a lorry transporting a perfume essence which happened at KM44.1 (northbound) of the Elite Highway led to odour pollution at the Jenderam Hilir raw water intake, after the liquid flowed into the watercourse.
The commission said this in turn caused the Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants (WTPs) to be temporarily shut starting from 2am yesterday.
“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 7am on Saturday in five areas namely Petaling, Hulu Langat, Sepang, Putrajaya and Kuala Langat,” it said in a statement yesterday.
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 yesterday, the ton recorded was 4.
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 to handle contaminated material.
SPAN said Air Selangor has taken immediate action by lowering all the weir gates at the Jenderam Hilir raw water intake to ensure all the contaminated material can be flushed downstream of Sungai Semenyih.
IWK has also been at the pollution site to carry out desludging as an immediate step to ensure pollution can be controlled immediately, added SPAN.
“At the same time, Air Selangor has mobilised water tankers to ensure continuity of water supply in affected areas, especially in public premises such as hospitals.
“Further developments will be notified to users by Air Selangor from time to time,” it said.
Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang of the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry was also present to witness the restoration work, added SPAN.
“He has proposed several recommendations to ensure that contaminated materials do not continue to spread and immediate recovery can be achieved,” said the commission.
Zaini recommended roping in IWK to suck out all the excess perfume essence at the scene while using activated carbon to neutralise the smell of the raw water in Sungai Limau Manis, as well as stopping the operations of the Sg Semenyih WTP until the odour disappears and water is released from the Semenyih Dam to dilute the contaminant.
Users can get more information on the Air Selangor application, its social media site or by contacting the Air Selangor contact centre at 15300.
