Construction site discovered stealing nearly RM500k worth of treated water

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) in a joint-operation with Air Selangor revealed that nearly RM500,000 worth of treated water was lost through water theft at a construction site in Gombak, here.
Air Selangor Gombak region head, Abdul Halim Othman said, it is estimated that the site had used 180,531m³ of non-revenue water (NRW) with an estimated value of RM413,611.30 over the course of 538 days.
"The theft was conducted by installing two intercepting polymer pipes measuring 32mm from Air Selangor's main pipe near a fire hydrant which was located behind the construction site.
"The illegal connection was used to supply treated water into the premises for construction, workers daily usage and canteen operations," he told reporters when met at the site, here, today.
He added that they became suspicious when the construction site which had a registered water account showing high water bill for 18 months, suddenly started showing low amount.
While the site developers will be made to pay the arrears, SPAN Corporate Communications and Consumer Affairs Unit director Hisyam Samad said they will also face charges.
"We have issued a notice to them and have cut off water supply to the site.
"If found guilty under Section 123(1) of the Water Services Industry Act, the accused can be sentenced under Section 123(3) of the same act to a fine of no more than RM100,000, a jail term of no longer than a year, or both," he said.
Last month, SPAN revealed that an estimated RM27.5 million worth of treated water was lost through water theft in peninsula Malaysia so far this year.
Air Selangor corporate communications chief Amin Lin Abdullah had said the number is from 14 cases that water authorities are investigating involving more than 12 million m³ of non-revenue water (NRW).