Water in Malaysia’s Johor state has been hit by another round of ammonia pollution, which shut down a treatment plant and cut water supply to 225,000 consumers.
But the plant resumed operations yesterday morning, the company told The Straits Times.
Water supply would be restored to affected consumers in stages starting from yesterday evening, said SAJ Ranhill’s general manager for production and distribution, Mr Elias Ismail, yesterday.
A palm oil processing factory was identified as the source of the contamination, after the Department of Environment conducted a site visit with Johor State Health, Environment, Education and Information Executive Committee chairman Ayub Rahmat.
According to national news agency Bernama, Datuk Ayub said the factory’s operating licence was immediately suspended for three months to allow the operator to conduct cleaning works and ensure factory waste is not discharged into a nearby river.
Three water treatment plants along the Johor River, also operated by Ranhill, were forced to suspend their operations over ammonia pollution.
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said water cuts have become a norm in the district, with various reasons given for rationing, including upgrading, pollution and scheduled maintenance.
"At the moment the level of water stored in the water reservoir is insufficient to cope with demand during downtime," said Mr Liew on his Facebook page.
"With proper planning, even if problems exist at the supply source, it would not disrupt normal usage," he added.
Singapore was not affected by the plant’s closure because the Sembrong dam is not part of the Johor River catchment from where Singapore draws its water.