SWIFT actions were taken after oil traces and odour pollution were detected at Sungai Gong on Sunday (Oct 7).
The Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) and Air Selangor acted quickly to prevent prolonged water supply disruptions in the state.
State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said, in a statement Wednesday (Oct 9), that LUAS, identified oil traces and an odour at Sungai Gong registering a measurement of 1 TON (Threshold Odour Number) around 9.50am.
She said that LUAS launched an investigation under the Yellow Code of its Water Pollution Emergency Manual, as the contaminated water posed a potential threat to nearby major water treatment plants (WTP), including WTP Rantau Panjang, which is located approximately 21km away.
“LUAS promptly deployed oil booms in Sg Gong to contain the spill and initiated static monitoring every 30mins in both Sg Gong and Sg Sembah.
“Investigations indicated that the source of the pollution originated from a factory in the Rawang Integrated Industrial Area, where a leak from a damaged oil tank was suspected.
“This leak, from a tank with a capacity of 1.84 cubic meters, resulted in an estimated 1.23 cubic meters of oil spilling out and entering nearby drains, ultimately reaching Sg. Gong."
Jamaliah also said that LUAS directed the factory to immediately halt the oil flow and implement control measures, including placing sand in the oil spill area.
“A written notice under Section 121(1) of the LUAS Enactment 1999 was issued to the factory to carry out urgent recovery and cleanup work within the premises and affected river stretches, as well as to prevent further spillage into Sg Gong.
“Additionally, LUAS deployed four oil booms and 22 oil pads at the factory and in Sg Gong to control the pollution and block any oily runoff.
“Cleanup and oil residue suction operations at all affected sites, including Sg Gong and the factory area, were carried out by a contractor hired by the factory and were completed today," she said.
She said that approximately 10,000 liters of contaminated water with oil residue were cleaned and suctioned using a 13,000-liter capacity tanker.
“LUAS subsequently verified that all affected sites were fully controlled, with odour readings and river conditions returning to normal."
LUAS ensured there was no risk of disrupting operations at the main WTPs in Selangor.
The statement also added that LUAS has sent samples from all incident-related locations for analysis to the Department of Chemistry Malaysia and has opened an investigation under Section 79(1) of the LUAS Enactment 1999 for further enforcement action against the parties involved.
