GUA MUSANG: The Kelantan Environment Department (DOE) has confirmed that no pollution was detected along Sungai Ketil in Taman Rimba, following reports of hundreds of dead fish found in the river on Friday (April 17).
Its deputy director Mohamad Zamzani Ibrahim said a team was sent to the scene at noon on the day of the incident, immediately after receiving the complaint.
However, he said the river water was clear, and no dead fish were found at the site upon their arrival.
"(Field) tests conducted on water samples found no traces of pollution, whether from industrial discharge from palm oil mills or premises within the Gua Musang industrial area located upstream.
"At the same time, the DOE did not receive any reports regarding operational disruptions at the Water Treatment Plant (LRA) situated near the upstream location on that day," he told reporters here on Monday (April 20).
Zamzani added that the DOE also operates a water-quality monitoring station near the LRA to ensure the river remains clean.
"Results from the latest periodic monitoring show that the river's water quality index (WQI) remains at a clean level with no suspicious elements of pollution.
"Only the E. coli reading was slightly high, which is likely caused by human or animal sewage waste," he said.
He added that water samples collected on the day of the incident have been sent to the Chemistry Department for detailed analysis to formally verify the water quality.
On Friday, reports of hundreds of dead fish in the river raised public concern about possible contamination. – Bernama
