DAWN CHAN New Straits Times 8 Oct 16;
SHAH ALAM: The Sungai Langat and Cheras water treatment plants were temporarily shut down at 8.30pm and 10pm respectively last night due to odour pollution suspected to have originated from the Semantan river in Pahang.
Both plants receive raw water supply from the same river, said Air Selangor Group Corporate Communications head Amin Lin Abdullah.
In a statement released at 10am today, Amin said Air Selangor's river surveillance team has been in Pahang since last night to assist the Pahang Water Resource Authority and Pahang Department of Environment in identifying the source of pollution in the river.
"Water from the Sungai Langat dam was released into the river at 9.45pm last night as part of efforts to mitigate the odour pollution.
"(As a result of the shutdown), several areas in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Petaling and Hulu Langat will be experiencing temporary water interruption.
"Relief water supplies will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical public facilities, such as hospitals and dialysis centres," said Amin.
The list of affected areas can be viewed at www.syabas.com.my Affected consumers in need of water can request for relief supplies by sending an SMS to 15300.
Sungai Langat, Cheras water treatment plants resume operations
DAWN CHAN New Straits Times 8 Oct 16;
SHAH ALAM: The Sungai Langat and Cheras water treatment plants resumed operations at 9am and noon respectively today.
Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs executive councillor Elizabeth Wong said water supply to affected areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Hulu Langat will be gradually restored – until then, relief water supply will be distributed based on a schedule as a stop-gap measure.
Wong said Air Selangor’s River Surveillance team is still in Pahang to assist the Pahang Water Resource Authority and Pahang Department of Environment in identifying the source of last night’s odour pollution in Sungai Semantan.
The two water treatment plants had to be temporarily shut down at 8.30pm and 10pm respectively due to odour pollution suspected to have originated from the Semantan river in Pahang.
Both plants, which receive raw water supply from the Semantan river, have switched to the Sungai Langat dam as their new source of water, said Air Selangor Group corporate communications head Amin Lin Abdullah.
Amin said relief water supply distribution to areas experiencing water disruption will begin tomorrow.
"(This) is to ensure that consumers do not experience interruption for an extended period. "Relief water supply will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical public facilities, such as hospital and dialysis centres.
"Consumers are urged to use water supply prudently during this restoration period,” he added.
Amin had earlier said water from the Sungai Langat dam had been released into the river at 9.45pm last night as part of efforts to mitigate the odour pollution.
The shutdown had resulted in taps in several areas in Kuala Lumpur, parts of Petaling Jaya and Hulu Langat running dry.
Scheduled water supply continues in four districts in Selangor
BERNAMA New Straits Times 8 Oct 16;
KUALA LUMPUR: Scheduled water supply to 330,000 consumers at several areas in the Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat, Sepang and Petaling districts will be continued until water supply in the areas resume fully.
Kumpulan Air Selangor corporate communications department chief, Amin Lin Abdullah said the scheduling had been in use since the closure of the Sg Semenyih Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday (Oct 4) due to contamination of raw water.
He said the temporary measure was aimed at ensuring consumers did not experience water supply disruption for a long period of time.
“Currently, only some areas in the districts are still affected by water supply scheduling such as Bandar Sunway Semenyih and Cyberjaya.
“We seek the cooperation of consumers to use water sparingly to help us expedite the recovery of water supply in the affected areas,” he said in a statement here today.
Amin Lin said water supply would be sent via tankers to those areas experiencing water disruption during the recovery period.
He said to avoid congestion at the customer call centre, consumers were urged to download the smart phone ‘mySYABAS’ application or surf www.syabas.com.my for further information.--BERNAMA
Temporary water disruptions in KL and Petaling district
The Star 7 Oct 16;
PETALING JAYA: Several areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling as well as Hulu Langat will experience temporary water interruption following the shut down of the Langat water treatment plan.
The Langat water treatment plant was shut down at 8.30pm on Friday night due to odour pollution from the Semantan River.
“Relief water supply will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical premises, such as hospital and dialysis centres,” said Air Selangor Group in a statement Friday regretting any inconvenience caused.
To avoid call center congestion, consumers are advised to download the “mySYABAS” smartphone application or visit www.syabas.com.my to get more information.
Consumers can also SMS their address to 15300 to request for relief water supply.
Several areas in KL, Petaling and Hulu Langat facing water disruption
PRIYA MENON The Star 8 Oct 16;
PETALING JAYA: Over 420,000 houses in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling and Hulu Langat will be having dry taps until further notice following the temporary closure of the Langat and Cheras water treatment plants.
Selangor's executive councillor for tourism environment, green technology and consumer affairs Elizabeth Wong in a statement said the closure was due to odour pollution at the Semantan River in Pahang.
Both Langat and Cheras plants were shut down at 8.30pm and 10pm respectively after an unusual odour was discovered at the outlet portal of Sungai Serai which receives water from Sungai Semantan at 7.30pm Friday night.
"We have contacted the Pahang water resource agency (Badan Kawalselia Air Pahang) which has informed the Environment Department.
"Meanwhile the Air Selangor surveillance team is currently in Pahang to assist them to track the source of the pollution," she added.
Water from the Sungai Langat Dam was released at 11.45pm to mitigate the odour pollution in the water.
Meanwhile, the Bukit Tampoi water plant has been put under alert as well and will be shut down if necessary.
Relief water supply will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical premises including hospitals and dialysis centres.
Consumers are advised to download the mySYABAS smartphone application or visit www.syabas.com.my to get more information.
Consumers can also SMS their addresses to 15300 to request for relief water supply.
Langat and Cheras water plants resume operations
PRIYA MENON The Star 8 Oct 16;
PETALING JAYA: The Langat and Cheras water treatment plants have resumed operations after a temporary shutdown last night.
The Langat plant resumed operations at 9am while the Cheras plant began operations at 12pm.
Selangor’s environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said Air Selangor’s River Surveillance team is still assisting the Pahang Water Resource Authority and Pahang Department of Environment to identify the source of last night's odour pollution in Sungai Semantan.
Water supply will be restored to the affected areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling and Hulu Langat in stages based on a schedule.
More than 420,000 households were affected by the closure of the water treatment plants.
“This is a temporary measure, to ensure consumers do not experience water supply interruption for an extended period,” she said.
Relief water supply will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical premises, such as hospital and dialysis centres.
Relief for residents affected by water cuts
SIRA HABIBU The Star 9 Oct 16;
PETALING JAYA: Residents affected by the closure of the Langat and Cheras water treatment plants can heave a sigh of relief as the two plants resumed their operations.
Air Selangor head of corporate communication Amin Lin Abdullah said yesterday that both treatment plants hadswitched their source of raw water supply from Sungai Semantan in Pahang to Sungai Langat dam.
Water will be distributed to all affected areas in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Petaling as well as Hulu Langat based on a schedule effective today as a temporary measure to ensure consumers do not experience supply interruption for an extended period.
The Sungai Langat and Cheras plants were shut down due to odour pollution suspected from Sungai Semantan.
Both plants receive raw water supply from the same river.
Air Selangor’s river surveillance team has been sent to Pahang to assist the Pahang Water Resource Authority and Pahang Department of Environment to identify the source of pollution in the river.
“Consumers are urged to use water prudently during this restoration period. They are advised to download the ‘mySYABAS’ smartphone application or visit www.syabas.com.my to get more information,” he said.
In a related development, Semenyih assemblyman Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz said lawyers were looking into legal options that consumers could take.
“In the meantime, I have sought the help of firemen to supply water to affected areas,” he said.
A Taman Mutiara Timur resident in Cheras, who wanted to be known only as Chong, said the public had a right to know the source and cause of pollution.
“This is a serious matter. I am curious as to how this could happen,” she said.
Chong said she had always stored water in pails and buckets in anticipation of a possible disruption.
“But what can we do if the water is contaminated? We need assurance the water is safe for consumption after supply is restored,” said the mother of three.
Retiree Kasnin Wagiman, 63, said the onus was on the authorities to ensure the water was safe for consumption.
“Can the authorities guarantee the water is safe?” he asked.
Expose river polluters and get RM10,000 reward
KATHLEEN MICHAEL The Star 8 Oct 16;
KAJANG: Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng (pic) is offering a RM10,000 reward to those who can provide information on the culprits responsible for polluting the Semantan River.
He will also give RM500 to the first person to provide picture or video evidence of anyone polluting the river.
Funds for the reward will come out of his allocation and will be given out upon once the provided information is confirmed by relevant authorities.
"The shutdown of the water treatment plants has affected 430,000 households. I am very unhappy with the water disruptions in Selangor due to river pollution and stern action must be taken against the culprits," he said.
The Sg Langat and Cheras water treatment plants were shut down at 8.30pm and 10pm respectively Friday due to pollution suspected to be from the Semantan River in Pahang.
Both these plants receive raw water from the same river.
Several areas in Kuala Lumpur and parts of Petaling and Hulu Langat will be experiencing temporary water interruption due to the shutdown.
Relief water supply will be delivered by tankers to affected areas and critical premises, such as hospitals and dialysis centres.
Consumers are advised to download the "mySYABAS" smartphone application or visit www.syabas.com.my to get more information.
Consumers can also SMS their addresses to 15300 to request for relief water supply.
Avert water disaster, AWER beseech authorities to tighten monitoring system
C.PREMANANTHINI New Straits Times 9 Oct 16;
SHAH ALAM: The Association of Water and Energy Research (Awer) has urged the authorities to beef up their monitoring system on waste water that are released into the rivers.
Awer president, Piarapakaran S., told the News Straits Times, the recent incidents of water treatment plants shutdown due to odour pollution cannot be taken lightly.
He said in the case of odour pollution detected in the Semantan river, there are a lot of plantation activities around the area and massive plots of lands being cleared around the catchment area, both of which could be the source of pollution.
If the problem is not solved, Piarapakaran said, it may affect the function of the Langat 2 water treatment plant, which is expected to start operating in 2019.
He pointed out that almost 20 per cent of treated water will come from Langat 2 and should another crisis occur, it will drastically affect even more consumers.
As for contamination in the Semenyih river, he said that the presence of illegal factories may very well be the cause.
He stressed that the authorities should monitor all factories, legal or illegal, with equal enforcement strength.
