Johor authorities confirm no water treatment plants closed following Sungai Sayong pollution, with supply normal as investigation into palm oil mill source continues.
PONTIAN: No water treatment plants in Johor have been shut down following a pollution incident at Sungai Sayong near Kota Tinggi.
State Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Fazli Salleh (pic) said pollution readings were conducted and relevant agencies would update findings to determine further action.
“Based on a report from the Department of Environment, the pollution is believed to have originated from an oil palm mill,” he said.
He added that the Johor Water Regulatory Body is continuing to monitor the situation, with water supply to consumers remaining normal.
Fazli also said the state government is planning to gazette five major rivers as raw water sources.
The rivers are Sungai Johor, Sungai Muar, Sungai Pontian, Sungai Endau and Sungai Sedili.
Information is being gathered to determine protection zone perimeters and identify potential pollution sources before finalising the gazetting process.
The state government is tightening controls on new developments by requiring early DOE involvement and Environmental Impact Assessment reports.
“As an early preventive measure, six telemetry systems have already been installed along Sungai Johor,” Fazli said.
Another six systems will be installed this year near water treatment plants to enable early pollution detection.
Yesterday, Panti Assemblyman Hahasrin Hashim said the DOE and Fisheries Department are investigating the incident where the river turned pitch black.
He said complaints from residents had been received, prompting an immediate request for departments to identify the pollution source and assess its environmental impact.
