Source of Sg Sembah, Sg Kundang odour pollution traced to leak at factory recycling acrylics

AN ACIDIC odour was detected at 3.30pm Monday (July 22) at Sungai Kuang near Jalan Kampung Orang Asli, Kuang in Gombak by the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas).

In response, Luas ordered a comprehensive investigation and took immediate prevention measures.

ALSO READ: Unscheduled water cut affects seven regions, including KL, PJ, Shah Alam, says Air Selangor

State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, in a press statement, said Luas coordinated with the Selangor Environment Department (DOE) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) at the site to trace the source of the smell and it was found the flow came from a factory believed to be processing acrylic material for recycling.

"Inspections by Luas, DOE and MPS at the premises found that there was an effluent flow from a tank leak causing the substance, which is believed to be a scheduled substance, poly methacrylic acid (PMAA), to overflow into drains up to Sungai Kuang," she said.

She added that Luas had ordered the premises to stop the discharge and carry out cleaning works immediately because it posed a risk to the nearby water treatment plants (LRA), which are Rantau Panjang LRA and Sungai Selangor Phase 1 (SSP1), SSP2 and SSP3.

"Luas has immediately implemented preliminary preventive measures by placing three bags of activated carbon in the river.

"Static monitoring was also carried out in Sungai Kundang with a higher frequency in Sungai Sembah and Sungai Selangor every 30 minutes," she said.

"Luas has immediately coordinated the opening of the river barrage and activated the pumping of raw water from the Kuala Lumpur Larut alternative pool and water from abandoned mining ponds under a hybrid off-river augmentation system (Horas) to increase the dilution rate in Sungai Selangor and accelerate the polluted flow past the plant's intake area.

"The Luas team has also placed and added a total of 59 activated carbon bags (around 1.47 tons) in Sungai Kuang, Sungai Kundang and Sungai Sembah to remove the smell," she added.

Jamaliah said Luas had opened investigation papers under Section 79(1) of the 1999 Luas Enactment for further enforcement action against the parties involved.

"At the same time, DOE and MPS will also take relevant action under their respective jurisdictions against the premises.

"The Selangor government and Luas will not compromise with any party that pollutes water sources and strict action will be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Luas Enactment 1999," she added.