KUALA LUMPUR – The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has initiated an investigation into the individuals responsible for the odour pollution incident in Sg Sembah and Sg Kundang in Selangor, which led to water supply disruptions in seven districts across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor since Tuesday.
In a statement, the commission said that investigations are being carried out under Section 121(1)(c) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 for polluting water supply, which is punishable by not more than 10 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM500,000.
“SPAN is also committed to ensuring that stern actions will be taken on any act of misconduct on the clean water and its sources as soon as possible and that appropriate penalties are given to perpetrators,” it added.
The pollution incident led to the temporary shutdown of the Rantau Panjang, Sg Selangor Phase 1, Sg Selangor Phase 2, and Sg Selangor Phase 3 water treatment plants on Tuesday.
This temporary shutdown impacted seven areas: Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor, and Kuala Selangor.
Yesterday, SPAN chairman Charles Santiago questioned the Selayang Municipal Council’s decision to impose the “slap on the wrist” penalties against the factory implicated in a recent odour pollution incident in Sg Kundang and Sg Sembah.
Responding to the RM1,000 compound and seven-day license suspension issued against the factory today, Santiago noted that “light” penalties will be an ineffective deterrent against pollution-related offences.
An investigation by the Department of Environment (DoE) at the premises that processed acrylic materials in the industrial area of Jalan Kampung Orang Asli, Kuang in Rawang found that the source of the pollution was a leak of a chemical known as polymetha acrylic acid (PMAA) from a storage tank.
This chemical is a liquid product produced by the premises.
The DoE has since detained two individuals to assist in the investigation.
SPAN also said that it would form a special committee that would look into water supply disruptions that are caused by pollution, where it would collect information, take statements, and look into all aspects of pollution-induced supply disruptions.
It would then recommend improvement measures that could be adopted as best practices by all stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of water supplies in the country.
“Various parties and government agencies will be directly involved in the data collection processes, including the Department of Environment, state raw water resource management bodies, local authorities, and water service operators in the relevant states.
“This committee will be established immediately and is expected to complete its tasks within 45 days of its first meeting session,” added SPAN. – July 26, 2024