PETALING JAYA: More than 1.6 million people in four districts in Selangor will have to depend on relief water for an indefinite period, as another wave of river pollution forced the closure of the Sungai Semenyih treatment plant.

Kumpulan Air Selangor Corporate Communication Department chief Amin Lin Abdullah said they have no choice but to wait until the odour pollution, believed to originate from Nilai Industrial Park in Negri Sembilan, was cleared.

“As we have no other alternative to switch the source of raw water supply, we have to wait until the odour goes off before resuming plant operations,” he said.

The Semenyih plant was closed at 7.30am yesterday, causing water disruption to 456 locations in Petaling, Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang districts.

It is the third wave of water supply disruption in Selangor caused by river pollution in recent weeks.

On Sept 22, the Semenyih water treatment plant was closed due to river pollution caused by an illegal factory along Jalan Sungai Lalang.

The Langat and Cheras water treatment plants were closed earlier this month due to odour pollution in Semantan River originating from Pahang.

However, the two plants were up and running almost immediately as the source of raw water supply was switched from Semantan River to Sungai Langat dam.

Amin said relief water would be sent in tankers to affected areas, and critical premises including hospitals and dialysis centres.

He said consumers could obtain the latest information through the “mySYABAS” mobile phone application, or www.syabas.com.my.

Air Selangor also expressed regret for the inconvenience posed by the plant closure.

Semenyih assemblyman Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz lambasted the Selangor government for initially delaying the approval of the Langat 2 water treatment plant project.

“If they did not play politics, the Langat 2 would be up and running by now.

“We would not have to suffer like this if we have alternative plants,” he said.

Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong who confirmed that the source of pollution was from Nilai, said upstream waterways there which flow into Sungai Buah leading to the Semenyih Intake Point was found to have strong unusual odour.

“Dead fish have also been spotted around the area,” she said.

Wong said Air Selangor and the Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) had sent river surveillance teams to narrow down the source of the odour.