A source in the joint investigation team probing the incident said checks on the factory premises found 40 plastic water containers that contained solvents which had the same odour detected at the IWK sewerage plant and the four water treatment plants that were shutdown.
“Based on our investigations, we suspect the premises were used to store scheduled wastes such as ink, paint and pigment wastes.
“These scheduled wastes have also been suspected to have been disposed of through a manhole on the premises. Ten samples (of the solvents) have been taken and a police report has been lodged at the Gombak district police station.
“The discharge is suspected to have flowed to the IWK sewerage plant. The premises have been sealed off by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS),” the source told FMT.
The joint investigation team comprises police, the Selangor Water Management Authority, the Environment Department, MPS, the Gombak Land Office, the National Water Services Commission and Air Selangor.
Selangor environment committee chairman Hee Loy Sian yesterday said the source of the Sungai Selangor pollution was traced to an IWK plant at Taman Velox.
He said the oil or solvent was disposed of into a manhole, which then flowed to the sewerage plant.
IWK had denied allegations that it was involved in the odour pollution, saying it was caused by third party illegal waste dumping.
The closure of the Sungai Selangor water treatment plants Phase 1, 2 and 3 and the Rantau Panjang plant saw 1,139,008 households in 1,279 areas in the Klang Valley going without water yesterday evening.
Air Selangor said the plants resumed operations early this morning and water supply is expected to be restored in stages from 3pm.
There have been six unscheduled water disruptions caused by pollution this year, with water treatment plant closures occurring on March 17, April 16, Sept 3, Oct 4, Oct 19 and yesterday.
Meanwhile, burst pipes had also caused unscheduled water disruptions on Feb 7, May 5, June 3, June 11, July 21, Aug 6, Sept 16, Oct 14 and Oct 16.