Outrageous water cuts and excuses


THE unscheduled water cuts in the Klang Valley ARE getting to be a scheduled inconvenience to consumers.

On Thursday, the unplanned water disruption hit 1,292 areas in seven districts in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Pengurusan Air Selangor announced that pollution detected in Sungai Selangor on Thursday morning had shut down four water treatment plants.

To the outrage of consumers, the reason for shutting down the water treatment plants was the same as that given for other “regular” unscheduled water cuts.

Why is it that it is always odour pollution detected in our rivers? That is the big question consumers are asking.

What is the DOE (Department of Environment) and Air Selangor doing about the culprits behind the odour pollution disruptions?

Selangor environment, green technology, science, technology and innovation and consumer affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian told the media that the culprit of the pollution that caused Thursday’s water disruption was a repeat offender.

In its first offence, the DOE compounded the factory, which conducts repairs and maintenance on heavy machinery in Rawang, RM60,000.

As Selangor exco member in charge of environment, Hee is not doing enough to stop the pollution of our rivers.

Why was the factory in Rawang allowed to pollute the river with discarded oil that was dispensed straight into the drain which flowed into the river?

The DOE and Hee should put a stop to this almost criminal act which has inconvenienced thousands of water consumers.

The frequent unscheduled dry taps are angering consumers who don’t buy into the excuses given for the pollution that causes the shutdown of water treatment plants.

“We always hear of odour pollution being detected in our rivers, disrupting water supply to consumers.

“How come the authorities didn’t take sterner action to deter criminals from committing such offences?” said Amalina Tajuddin, a 32-year-old housewife from Gombak.

The inconvenient truth might be that the DOE and the Selangor government are not doing enough to put a stop to the perennial pollution problem.

To compound the water cut woes, Air Selangor has warned that it could take a minimum of four days for water supply to be restored.

This water disruption might be the worst yet for the Klang Valley.

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