KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Jan 2009: About 18,000 people in eight areas will experience water disruptions after a trailer laden with palm oil spilled its load following a crash at Km28 of the Karak-Kuala Lumpur Expressway today.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) said in a statement that the spill contaminated the raw water source at Sungai Gombak Water Treatment Plant.
“Syabas has shifted the water supply from other sources to reduce the number of areas affected and is carrying out restoration works to overcome the palm oil contamination at the intake,” it said.
Among the areas affected are International Islamic University Malaysia, British Malaysian Institute, Sekolah Menengah Teknik Gombak, Sekolah Menengah Integrasi Gombak, Karak Expressway toll plaza, Sekolah Al-Amin Gombak, International Islamic School and Karak Expressway BHP pump station.
Syabas has deployed tankers to send water by road to the eight areas.
Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Sungai Gombak Water Treatment Plant, has appointed a contractor to clean up the contaminated river.
Syabas said it had activated Code Green of its Emergency Action Plan. Further information can be obtained from its Customer Service Centre at 1-800-88-5252.
The road crash involving the trailer and a lorry at 3.45pm killed three people including an Indonesian working as the trailer attendant while his driver sustained serious injury. — Bernama
