Metro

Wednesday July 15, 2009

Salak Tinggi water treatment plant may be closed for good

By GEETHA KRISHNAN


A RECORD number of 13 closures since 2005, including two this year, may shut down the Salak Tinggi water treatment plant in Kampung Ginching, Sepang, for good.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) corporate communications and public affairs general manager Abdul Halem Mat Som did not discount the possibility at a media briefing yesterday to highlight the latest closure.

The plant operated by Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd has been closed since July 6 after high ammonia levels were detected at the Sungai Labu raw water intake point. The plant also ceased operations on June 26 for the same reason.

For the record, Sungai Labu flows through Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

Shut down: The Salak Tinggi water treatment plant caters to 10,000 consumers and may cease operating altogether if the contamination continues to occur.

“We believe Sungai Labu is once again contaminated with industrial effluent from the Nilai Industrial Area in Negri Sembilan.

“The relevant authorities should step in and take stern action because the plant was shut down six times in 2006,” Abdul Halem said.

“With its 10.8 million litre daily (MLD) capacity, the plant supplies water to 10,000 consumers in Kampung Ginching, Kampung Labu Lanjut, Kampung Salak Tinggi, Ginching Hulu, Ginching Hilir, Kampung Lembah Paya and Pekan Salak.

“There has been no disruption since the shutdown as we have diverted water to the affected areas via the Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant,” he said at the briefing held at the Kampung Labu Lanjut pump house, 15km away from the Salak Tinggi plant.

Evidence of contamination was obvious from the foaming and foul-smelling water seen at the intake point. There were also bubbles and a thin film of oil.

More proof of river pollution was obtained from a stopover in Kampung Tanjung, Nilai, where Sungai Nilai and Sungai Labu merged. While Sungai Labu was the colour of teh tarik, Sungai Nilai was black and emitted a nausea-inducing stench. Sungai Labu downstream was also clogged with rubbish.

Clear indicator: Abdul Halem Mat Som pointing to the confluence of Sungai Labu and Sungai Nilai and explaining the contrast in the colour.

The Cheras 11th Mile water treatment plant was also closed as of 10am on Monday due to high ammonia levels detected at the intake point, in this case, Sungai Langat.

As a result, low-water pressure was expected to affect 10,000 consumers in Cheras and Balakong.

Water tankers were despatched to areas where supply was disrupted including Taman Sejati, Taman Taming Indah and Rumah Seri Kenangan.

Abdul Halem said water was diverted from the Sungai Langat water treatment plant following the closure of the Cheras 11th Mile plant.

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