By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Oct 9 — Prompt action by the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) following an oil leak in Sungai Gong successfully prevented the shutdown of the state’s primary water treatment plants (WTP), which could have potentially impacted millions of consumers.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Luas detected traces of oil in Sungai Gong with a reading of one Threshold Odour Number during a routing patrol at 9.50am on Monday (October 7).
The state agency implemented immediate mitigation measures, as the polluted flow has the potential to impact the state's main WTPs in Sungai Selangor, namely the Rantau Panjang WTP and the SSP1, SSP2, and SSP3 WTPs.
“Luas placed an oil boom in Sungai Gong to contain the oil traces and activated static monitoring every 30 minutes in Sungai Gong and Sungai Sembah,” she said in a statement today.
A probe by Luas identified the source of the polluted flow to originate from a factory in the Rawang Integrated Industrial Park. The oil spill was traced to a leak from a tank belonging to the premises, believed to be caused by a valve malfunction.
Jamaliah added that the tank leak resulted in an estimated 1.23 cubic metres of oil spilling out and entering a nearby drain, which then flowed into Sungai Gong.
“Luas directed the premises to immediately stop the oil flow, including placing sand in the spill area within the premises as a control measure.
“Luas also issued a written notice under Section 121(1) of the Luas Enactment 1999, instructing the premises to carry out immediate restoration and cleaning efforts within the premises and along the affected stretch of the river,” she said.
At the same time, Luas deployed four units of oil booms and 22 oil pads across the entire drain and the affected premises, as well as in Sungai Gong, as part of pollution control measures.
Sand barriers were also placed within the factory premises to enhance prevention efforts, stopping any oily flow from entering the drain and subsequently into the river.
“The cleaning and suction work for oil residue at all affected locations, including Sungai Gong, within the premises and nearby drains, was carried out by a contractor appointed by the premises and completed today.
“A total of 10,000 litres of water contaminated with oil residue was cleaned and suctioned. Luas has since conducted verifications at all affected locations, confirming that the situation is fully under control, with odour readings and river conditions returning to normal,” Jamaliah said.
Luas has opened an investigation paper under Section 79(1) of the Luas Enactment for further enforcement action against the parties involved.
“The Selangor government and Luas will not compromise and will take firm action against any negligence that causes problems and pollutes water sources,” she said.
