KUALA LUMPUR: The Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant resumed operations today following its third shutdown within the space of 48 hours.
Selangor Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment exco Elizabeth Wong in a statement said operations resumed at 2.30pm today.
“The Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant was shut down for the third time at 9.15am due to an unidentified smell in the raw water from the river,” said Wong.
The first two shutdowns occurred on Sept 22 and Sept 23.
“The state government will take action against the guilty party and is not ruling out any element of sabotage,” she said.
Wong said the probe to identify the source of pollution is ongoing since Sept 22 in the Semenyih lower catchment area and five major tributaries.
Teams from SYABAS (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) , Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) and the Department of Environment are involved with the investigation and had covered the areas of Villaraya, Beranang, Hulu Semenyih, Sungai Purun and Nilai.
Partial test results on raw water samples showed no hazardous substance, such as sulphide, formaldehyde, selenium, anionic detergent, cyanide and mineral oil.
“More test are being conducted to identify the source of pollution and to ensure the safety of the treated water,” she said.
Sampling is done every two hours with special attention given at Sungai Buah, Sungai Beranang, Sungai Rinching, Sungai Purun and Sungai Semenyih.
Several districts in Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang faced temporary water disruption until the water treatment plant resumed its operations.
For latest updates on the situation, readers can visit www.syabas.com.my or download the “mySYABAS” app.
“We are distributing five litres of bottled drinking water to affected areas,” said Wong, adding that water tankers were also dispatched.
The affected areas are :
Hulu Langat District: Bangi, Bandar Bukit Mahkota, Kajang, Semenyih and Rinching.
Kuala Langat District: Morib, Banting, Bandar Saujana Putra, Bandar Rimbayu and Telok Panglima Garang.
Petaling District: USJ 1-27, Puchong, Seri Kembangan and Serdang
Sepang District: Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Bandar Nusa Putra, Putra Heights, Pulau Meranti, Kota Warisan, Bandar Bukit Puchong and Sg. Merab.