Sungai Buah pollution: Results from water samples to be known next week

The test results of water samples extracted from the drains around KM46.2 northbound of the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, which are believed to contain crude oil, will be known next week.

Senior Assistant Director of the Department of Environment (DOE) Negeri Sembilan, Anuar Ishak said the samples taken by his staff on Wednesday, will help answer the question of the source of pollution in Sungai Buah, Nilai, causing the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Sungai Semenyih to be closed.

Anuar said checks done by the DOE at the gutter area yesterday afternoon found there was a spillage mixture of diesel, black oil and palm oil, due to the accident involving a tanker carrying palm oil in the area last Friday.

"Because the spill occurred seven days ago, and coupled with rain, it caused the mixture to 'flush out' to other regions.

"The time factor also caused the mixture to coagulate and it turned white, floating on the water surface.

"The information from traders at the RnR (northbound) of a white mixture in the drains there also matches the colour we see at KM46.2," he said when contacted by Bernama, Thursday.

Anuar said when the spill was found, the white mixture which spanned over 10 metres filled the surface of the drain and emitted a strong palm oil smell in the surrounding area. -- BERNAMA