JOHOR BARU: Over 290,000 account holders affected by a sudden water disruption following a pollution incident in Sungai Johor will be given a 15% rebate for the October water bills, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Johor Mentri Besar stated that the water supply had been fully restored as of 9 pm on Wednesday (Nov 5).
"To ease the burden of those affected, the state government has agreed to announce a 15% rebate on water bills for October 2025.
"The discount covers 292,158 domestic and non-domestic accounts, including residential homes, places of worship, business premises, and welfare institutions, as an appreciation for the people’s patience in facing this ordeal.
"I realise that this assistance may not be equivalent to the hardship experienced, but I hope it will at least help to ease the burden and bring some relief to those affected," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 6).
Onn Hafiz also apologised to the public regarding the incident and emphasised that the state government would make sure those responsible are held accountable.
He added that field teams are still conducting thorough inspections at several locations to ensure stable water pressure and flow.
He also expressed his appreciation to agencies and front-line workers, including Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, for their efforts in addressing the situation.
Last Friday (Oct 31), Mohamad Fazli stated that the water turbidity level in Sungai Johor had spiked to 37,400 NTU, compared to the normal level of around 400 NTU.
Initial investigations found that a local sand mining operator triggered the incident after soil movement led to the collapse of the sixth sand washing pond in Kota Tinggi, contaminating Sungai Johor.
This led to over a million people in Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kulai and Pontian experiencing unscheduled water disruptions as the incident had affected four treatment plants.
