PETALING JAYA: The four-hour disruption to the Sungai Selangor Phase 1,2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants (WTP) that had caused 1,337 areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur to experience unscheduled water supply has been traced to an oil spill from heavy machinery said Selangor Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian.
The WTPs were shut down after odour pollution was detected at 9.45pm on Saturday (Feb 11).
Through a statement issued by Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas), Hee said the spill which took place on the banks of Sungai Selangor was located three kilometres away from the Rantau Panjang WTP main water intake.
Luas had taken immediate action by placing three oil booms and three boxes of oil pads in the affected area to prevent the spill from flowing into the river. The river bund was also raised.
As much as 836 million litres of raw water had to be pumped from the Hybrid Off River Augmentation Storage (HORAS) 600 and KL Larut alternative retention pond to dilute the diesel pollution. The barrage doors were also closed at the WTPs to quicken dilution and prevent the polluted raw water from spreading further away from the main water intake area.
Operations to the WTPs resumed at 6.30am on Sunday (Feb 12) after the raw water was re-channelled to the Rantau Panjang plants at 1.30am and the Sungai Selangor Phase 1,2, 3 WTPs at 2.15am following three subsequent scent detection tests which rendered readings of 0 ton each time on Sunday.
Hee said the heavy machinery has since been moved by its owner who has been ordered to carry out cleaning works in accordance with specifications set by Luas who will be carrying out continuous samplings at the pollution source to prevent further recurrences. The owner is expected to face legal action from Luas.
