By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, May 5 — Developers and owners of premises or development sites are urged to take extra precautions during on-site operations to protect the water sources in Selangor.
The Selangor Water Management Board (Luas) reiterated that the state government and related agencies would not compromise those that jeopardise the state’s water sources and could disrupt the public’s access to treated water.
“The Selangor government, Luas, and related agencies will not compromise and will take strict action against any party causing problems and polluting the state’s water sources through the powers and legislation of various agencies.
“Ensure that the safety, control, and maintenance aspects of machinery, equipment, and facilities on site are at a good level and pose no risk to water sources, especially rivers that have the potential to disrupt the operation of WTPs and, consequently, the supply of treated water to the people,” it said in a Facebook post yesterday.
The statement was issued following a high turbidity level of 496 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) and a pH reading of 9.36 (high alkalinity) detected on Friday in Sungai Pasir, which is one of the tributaries of Sungai Gombak.
The state agency said that further checks found increased readings detected in the area along Sungai Gombak, including its tributaries Sungai Tiang and Sungai Pasir, were caused by poor maintenance of a treatment pond at a construction site near Sungai Tiang.
“Checks at the site found that the treatment pond for the activity was poorly maintained.
“Water quality sampling at the site recorded high pH readings of up to 11.08. All samples taken by Luas have been sent to the Chemistry Department for further analysis for enforcement action,” the post read.
Luas added that it had issued instructions to the site owner under Section 122 of the Luas Enactment 1999 to take immediate control measures on the treatment pond and conduct cleaning works on the premises site and along Sungai Tiang.
It said that further action had been taken to initiate an investigation under Section 79(1)(c) for the offence of polluting water sources.
