IPOH: IPOH: Heavy rainfall, mineral runoffs, and specific water flow conditions combined to turn sections of Sungai Perak a striking greenish-blue, state authorities confirmed.
Perak Environment Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said Tuesday (Sept 8) that recent water analysis revealed the hue was created by natural mineral particles carried into the river system during intense downpours. Photos and videos of the discolored river recently went viral across social media platforms.
"Hulu Perak is rich in natural minerals like copper, iron, aluminum, and silica," Teh said in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 8). "High-volume surface runoff from rainfall, which was nearly double the normal amount during this period, swept fine mineral particles into the river basin. When accumulated fine particles interact with light under specific water flow conditions, they produce a blue hue."
Teh reassured the public that the phenomenon has not compromised water safety. Sungai Perak remains categorized under Class II of the Water Quality Index, meaning it remains safe for recreational use, fishing, and as a raw water source for treatment plants.
The state Environment Department monitors the river basin through eight manual stations, which conduct testing six times a year, alongside an automated station connected to the Environmental Quality Monitoring Programme System.
To safeguard the river long-term, Teh outlined several proposed measures, including conducting a Total Maximum Daily Load study on Sungai Perak and Sungai Rui to determine acceptable pollution limits, establishing a state-level task force for inter-agency enforcement, expanding real-time online water monitoring locations, and developing stricter mining guidelines based on international best practices.
