Swift action by LUAS prevents possible disruption to Selangor water treatment plant

THE SELANGOR Water Management Board (LUAS) took swift action following the detection of oil traces in Sungai Durian in Serendah, which prevented a possible disruption to one of Selangor’s key water treatment plants.

“Traces of oil were found in Sungai Durian at around 11am on Wednesday (April 17). LUAS then activated the Yellow Code, based on the Emergency Manual for Water-Based Pollution, for immediate prevention/ mitigation actions and comprehensive investigation,” Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said in a statement.

“This was because the contaminated flow could potentially impact the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plant (WTP), one of Selangor’s main water treatment plants located approximately 27.22km from the incident site.”

She said LUAS officers quickly arrived at the site to carry out investigations, and found that the oil spill had originated from a generator set and improper storage of diesel oil at a construction project site, located about 170m from the river.

“LUAS then issued a Water Protection Order (Arahan Perintah Perlindungan Air) under Section 122 of the LUAS 1999 Enactment on the construction site and for its workers to carry out immediate cleaning and restoration work,” said Jamaliah.

“They were also ordered to take measures to prevent oil from further spilling into Sungai Durian and to undertake cleaning work on the stretch of river contaminated by the oil spill.

“At the same time, LUAS conducted sampling in the affected site and on Sungai Durian’s water flow. These samples were sent to the Malaysian Chemistry Department for analysis as well as further investigation and enforcement action under Section 79 (1) of the LUAS 1999 Enactment.”

She said LUAS closely monitored the cleaning works, which were completed by 12.30am on Thursday (April 18).

“LUAS has verified that the site and Sungai Durian recorded a reading of 0 ton (threshold odour number) and no further oil traces were found.

“The mitigation operation concluded at 12.30am, after it was determined that Sungai Durian’s condition was normal and there were no further potential risks of pollution to Rantau Panjang WTP or the state’s other main WTPs located downstream, namely Sungai Selangor Phases 1, 2 and 3 (SSP1, SSP2, and SSP3),” concluded the statement.