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Water cuts in Selangor, a chronology of last few years
On July 23, Air Selangor announced water cuts affecting seven areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. These cuts, lasting three days, were caused by pollution in local rivers causing unpleasant odours.
Such unscheduled disruptions due to pipe maintenance or pollution are becoming increasingly common for residents.
Among the pollution events...
On July 23, Air Selangor announced water cuts affecting seven areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. These cuts, lasting three days, were caused by pollution in local rivers causing unpleasant odours.
Such unscheduled disruptions due to pipe maintenance or pollution are becoming increasingly common for residents.
Among the pollution events, Sungai Semenyih and Sungai Selangor have frequently been hotspots.
The pollution typically arises from chemicals discharged by nearby factories and irresponsible actions by residents.
Unfortunately, efforts to address these issues are often inadequate. Even when polluters are identified, proving their guilt can be challenging due to insufficient evidence.
Polluters who discharge harmful substances into rivers can face severe penalties under the law.
Under Section 25(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, they can be fined up to RM10 million and face up to five years in prison.
Additionally, Section 79(1) of the Luas Enactment Act 1999 allows for fines ranging from RM200,000 to RM1 million, with imprisonment for up to three years.
The areas hardest hit by these water cuts include the Klang Valley, Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat, Klang, and Kuala Selangor. Residents in these areas generally experience disruptions lasting at least a day during such water cuts.
Although the number of pollution-related water disruption incidents has decreased in recent years - eight cases in 2020, three in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023, and another recent case in 2024 - these interruptions still pose significant problems for local communities.
To provide a clearer picture, Malaysiakini has created a chart illustrating water cut incidents in Selangor from 2020 till the present.
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