By Media Selangor Team
SHAH ALAM, June 24 — A leaking oil storage tank at a motorcycle workshop is believed to have caused pollution in Sungai Salak, Gombak, prompting the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) to activate a Yellow Code alert yesterday afternoon.
LUAS said the incident was detected after an abnormal odour was reported in the river at about 2 pm, raising concerns over a potential impact on the Wangsa Maju Water Treatment Plant (LRA) intake operations.
Following the report, a monitoring team conducted an immediate inspection in the affected area and discovered traces of oil along the banks of Sungai Salak.
“Further investigations identified a motorcycle workshop suspected of discharging the pollutant.
“Checks at the premises found that an oil storage tank had leaked, causing the pollutant to flow into Sungai Salak,” the agency said in a statement.
To prevent the contamination from spreading, LUAS deployed one oil boom and six oil pads to contain and absorb the oil residue on the water surface.
The agency also ordered the premises owner to immediately stop the discharge and carry out clean-up works under Section 121(1) of the LUAS Enactment 1999.
“Samples were collected by LUAS at the premises and river locations and have been sent to the Department of Chemistry Malaysia for further analysis.
“An investigation paper has been opened under Section 79(4) of the LUAS Enactment 1999 for the offence of polluting a water source,” it said.
As of 6 pm yesterday, the premises owner had taken preliminary control measures by spreading sand over the affected area to prevent the movement of the pollutant.
“Checks at the water treatment plant intake confirmed that no traces of oil were detected. LUAS monitoring also found that the abnormal odour had dissipated and river conditions had returned to normal,” it said.
However, LUAS stressed that periodic monitoring would continue to ensure the incident does not recur and to safeguard water resources in the area.
