PUTRAJAYA: The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is recommending that water treatment plant operators review their standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be able to identify types of odours emitted from water.
Its minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this is to enable them to swiftly shut down operations when necessary to ensure that consumers are not exposed to contamination.
"So far, only the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) monitors the odour parameter, although this is not required in raw water supply monitoring by the Health Ministry.
"The Environment Department (DOE) also does not have the odour parameter under the National Water Quality Standard for river water.
"(So) our integrated team will immediately re-assess the odour sampling methods implemented by Luas to check whether it complies with the recommended standards," Wan Junaidi said in a statement today.
He was commenting on the odour pollution crisis in Sungai Buah in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, which affected the Sungai Semenyih Water Treatment Plant, forcing it to be shut down.
The closure of the plant had affected some 1.6 million Selangor residents.
Wan Junaidi said the ministry has taken several measures to resolve the problem, aided by a joint task force from the DOE, Luas, the federal and Selangor governments and local authorities.
The measures include repairing a broken retaining wall to prevent overflow from Sungai Buah into Sungai Semenyih.
"Repair works on the broken retaining wall are still ongoing.
"Three more walls will be built, after which, the water will flow through a small channel at the first wall and overflow from the following walls.
"We have also placed activated carbon filters, to reduce the odour pollution, at each wall," he said.
Wan Junaidi also suggested that Luas study the use of activated carbon as a best engineering practice, as applied by other water treatment plants.
He added that he has instructed the DOE to work with the Selangor state government to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the Semenyih plant contamination and those responsible for the incident.
"We will ensure that the ministry and the DOE work continuously with relevant agencies, including with the local authorities.
"We will also make sure that legal action is taken against individuals or companies responsible for affecting the welfare of the people," he said, adding that the ministry would not hesitate to work with the police to arrest the culprits.
Wan Junaidi also urged highway operators to immediately report to the DOE any incidents of chemicals or harmful substances spilling from roads and flowing into water channels.
“The DOE will monitor the cleaning works and give advice when necessary to avoid untoward incidents," he said.