Sungai Benut pollution due to garbage overload (Updated)

SIMPANG RENGAM: The poor management of Ladang Cep sanitary landfill has been identified as the main cause for the pollution of Sungai Benut, said Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Hamim Samuri (pix).
The landfill site was found to have exceeded its capacity resulting in the occurrence of ammonia pollution in Sungai Benut, with about 200 three-tonne lorries from Batu Pahat, Simpang Renggam, Kluang and other areas dumping garbage there daily, said Hamim when he visited the landfill today.
Hamim said some of the garbage would be moved to the nearest sanitary landfills, besides recommending that the landfill (at Ladang Cep) be upgraded to accommodate excess capacity from the surrounding areas.
Investigation showed that the polluted black water came from the water storage pond at the landfill after the pond's embankment collapsed due to rain on June 29.
The state's garbage collection, disposal and upkeep of drains and cleanliness have been contracted to Southern Waste Management (SWM).
According to the Department of Environment, the company that manages the landfill since 2015 had been issued with compounds 15 times due to effluent discharged from leachate flow which did not meet the permissible emission standards.
On June 30, about 6,000 consumers were affected following the closure of the Simpang Renggam water treatment plant due to high ammonia readings from the water source at Sungai Benut.
However, the operation at the water treatment plant has resumed since last Sunday.
On another matter, Hamim said the draft of National Source Water Act is at the final stage of collecting feedback from all states.
"We need all state governments to agree on the draft content before we go to parliament," he said.
The Act is scheduled to be tabled at parliament by year-end, and it will act as a guideline for water source management, he said.
Meanwhile, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) president S. Piarapakaran said with this latest development, it is even more pertinent for the government to impose higher punishment on sanitary landfills which do not take measures against pollution.
"The current penalty is minimal. Which is why I had previously proposed that the management of these landfills should also bear the cost of shutting down water treatment plants, and even the loss of income incurred by industry players.
"The Department of Environment should also be conducting spot checks on these landfills to make sure they adhere to all the conditions required of them," he told theSun.
Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit, also urged that the government impose heftier punishments against errant managements of sanitary landfills.