Two water treatment plants in Sungai Langat are still closed for public safety due to ammonia pollution and will resume when the ammonia is cleared.  

Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Mahdzir Khalid said the closures of the 11th mile Cheras and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants were aimed not to burden but to prevent untoward incidents to the public.

“Despite our concern for those affected, the plants cannot be opened as the ammonia content is high,” he said after handing over Touch Points to 300 people in the Padang Terap Parliamentary constituency in Kuala Nerang today.

He said the ministry learnt that the Environment Department and the National Water Service Commission had determined that the source of the pollution came from a private sewage plant not run by Indah Water Consortium (IWK).

Mahdzir said the pollution had disrupted water supply to 17 areas in Ulu Langat and 19 areas in Kuala Langat, involving 20,000 homes.

“Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) had rerouted water from Sungai Langat and Sungai Semenyih plants to the affected areas to ease the impact of dry taps,” he said.

In another development, he said IWK was prepared to cooperate with the agencies concerned to clean the pollution off the Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang.

“I understand that coordination between the agencies involved is under way. I am not blaming anybody, but a task force must be set up to solve the problem,” he said.

The issue of pollution of the sea off Batu Ferringhi Beach, reported in the media since Monday, piqued public attention as the area is a popular tourist destination.

On Tuesday, IWK had denied the incidents of pollution in the river and sea were caused by its sewage treatment plants.

- Bernama