SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) recorded no red alert incidents involving water supply disruptions this year following continuous enforcement actions, including the issuance of 124 compound notices worth RM4.87mil for various pollution-related cases.
LUAS River Basin and Coastal Management deputy director Haslina Amer said this achievement was due to vigilant monitoring and early, consistent actions to protect the state's water resources from pollution threats.
"Pollution cases can occur regardless of the season, whether dry or rainy, especially in river basins with certain risk levels.
"These risks usually arise from land clearing that increases river turbidity, surface runoff carrying solid waste, the use of fertilisers in plantations and agriculture, as well as effluent discharges into nearby rivers," she said on Thursday (Dec 25).
Haslina said to date, no incidents affecting water treatment plant operations were recorded, thanks to continuous control and high preparedness levels by LUAS teams across the state.
She said 24-hour monitoring allows any discharge or incident to be detected early and managed immediately before it can impact the water supply to the public.
"Most pollution in Selangor comes from spillages due to accidents on highways, especially during festive seasons when vehicle movements increase.
"This can cause waste to enter nearby channels and pose a risk to water treatment systems, but rapid field action helps prevent the situation from worsening," she said.
Regarding hotspot areas, Haslina revealed that the number of high-risk locations remained the same regardless of the season, as most are situated in upstream water sources requiring continuous monitoring.
She said control and supervision efforts are focused on industrial and commercial areas, as these have a higher potential for discharges that could affect raw water quality.
"The Langat River Basin recorded the highest number of incidents, around 40%, in line with rapid development in areas around Kajang and Semenyih. The opening of new development areas in these locations also increases pollution risks and requires stricter monitoring and control," she said.
At the same time, Haslina said 28 cases were detected through monitoring via various 24-hour platforms, while the total, including public complaints received, was 96 cases this year.
She said complaints were received through the public via WhatsApp, the Public Complaint Management System (SISPA), and official letters before investigations were conducted in close cooperation with relevant agencies.
"Currently, around 30 investigation files remain open and are being further processed in court, with developments expected to be known early next year," she said. - Bernama
