SHAH ALAM, Nov 27 — There is currently no special device that can detect odour pollution of raw water sources, says state executive councillor for infrastructure and public amenities Izham Hashim.
He said whenever there is pollution, it can only be detected directly using the olfactory sense.
However, Izham said the state government is planning on using an organic carbon analyser device, or the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser, to detect the source of odour pollution.
“Usually the odour pollution comes from organic matters, hence this device would be able to detect the source based on changes to the polluted water,” he said during a media briefing on the Sungai Selangor and Sungai Semenyih water supply problem solution plan here yesterday.
Izham added that odour pollution occurs more frequently compared to diesel or palm oil spills as previously faced.
He explained that water sources with odour pollution cannot be processed although the pollution level or TON (threshold odour number) reading is low and does not change the colour of the water.
“Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) had once experienced processing the water with a one TON reading. A chemical reaction was formed which causes odour to be stronger. We are also complying with the advice by the Health Ministry,” he said.
