When we turn on our taps, we would expect to get clean water, or at least water that we can drink after we boil it. Well, this may no longer be true for many residents of Pahang. Recently, reports by the Department of Environment tell us that there are high levels of mercury found in Pahang’s rivers.

Mercury acts as a neurotoxin, or in simple words, poison to our brains. Its effects are even more prominent among pregnant women and young children. The main reason this dangerous substance is even there is because of bauxite mining.

Is that just the rivers’ problem? Unfortunately, no. Water samples were taken from consumers and it was found that it contains high levels of aluminum and lead! This is water that consumers drink! You can kill bacteria by boiling water, but aluminium and lead stay in the water no matter how long you boil it.

This case is actually quite similar to a current issue in Flint, Michigan. There, the government tried to save some money by choosing to use a cheaper supply of water from the Flint River instead of buying it. This was opposed by many environmental group and experts but it was ignored. The water ended up being too corrosive for the city’s old lead pipes, and so the people of Flint drank water contaminated with lead and are now suffering from lead poisoning.

Compare the story above to our case. The authorities tried to generate some extra jobs and income through bauxite mining. This was opposed by environmental groups and experts but they were ignored. The water that reached the old pipes of consumers are now contaminated with lead AND aluminium. We can see that the development of the issue is pretty much identical up to this point, and it is only a matter of time before the serious problems starts.

The children in Flint will now have to carry the lead exposure with them forever. There are high chances that they will suffer from lower IQ, aggressive behavior, high blood pressure and various other physical and mental problems. On the economic side, Flint will have to fork out millions to reconnect to clean water supply, fix corroded pipes as well as prepare for lawsuits. The amount is so high, it is unaffordable, but they will need to pay for it some way or another.

Please notice how serious the bauxite issue can get in Pahang. Lead pollution alone caused that much problems in Flint, now we have lead, aluminium and mercury. Not to mention that we have a monsoon season that is capable of carrying any polluted water directly to the people.

In fact, it has already happened in Kampung Padang, Kuantan and there is no guarantee that it won’t happen again. We do not have time to wait for complicated procedures and bureaucracy. Immediate action must be taken right now!

NAH KOK WAI is research and policy executive, Forum Air Malaysia.