JOHOR BARU: The recent water pollution incident in Sungai Johor was the worst the state has ever experienced involving a water supply source, says state executive councillor Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The state works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman said the highest water turbidity level ever recorded for a water source in Johor previously was 5,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).
"There have been pollution incidents involving other rivers, but when it comes to a water source, this is the worst ever recorded.
"It caused the water’s turbidity level to spike dramatically to 37,400 NTU.
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"Before this, the highest level recorded was 5,000 NTU, which also involved Sungai Johor," he said at a press conference after checking on water distribution efforts at Taman Impian Emas here Wednesday (Nov 5).
He added that the company involved in the previous incident had been ordered to shut down following the incident in 2019 and remains closed to this day.
Meanwhile, on the current pollution, Mohamad Fazli said the water turbidity level in Sungai Johor has dropped to below 500 NTU.
"The company involved has been issued a notice to stop operations, and its permit has been temporarily suspended pending investigation.
"The state government has also directed the company to bear the cost of damages and the impact on Johor residents," he said, adding that the total amount of losses is still being calculated.
He said water supply is expected to be fully restored later Wednesday.
"As of 2pm, the remaining 2,472 accounts still under recovery are located in Taman Impian Emas, Taman Impian and Taman Anggerik Emas.
"These are the last affected areas, and we expect water supply to be fully restored by midnight," he said.
On Friday (Oct 31), Mohamad Fazli said the water turbidity level in Sungai Johor had spiked to 37,400 NTU compared with the normal level of around 400 NTU.
“The incident was caused by land-based sand mining activities carried out by a local company when its sand washing pond burst due to soil movement," he said.
The pollution affected four water treatment plants, leading to an unscheduled water disruption involving about 1.2 million consumers across Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kulai and Pontian.
