Nearly 40,000 water accounts in Johor affected by excessive ammonia levels

JOHOR BAHRU - Almost 40,000 water consumer accounts were affected after ammonia levels exceeding safety standards were detected in the raw water source supplying the Sultan Ismail Water Treatment Plant in Skudai on July 23.

Johor water operator Ranhill SAJ’s chief executive officer Anuar Abdul Ghani described the incident as a serious case of contamination that disrupted clean water supply to residents in the affected areas, namely Skudai and Johor Bahru.

“As the sole water operator, we have taken proactive measures to address the incident and managed to reduce the number of affected accounts to fewer than 1,000.

“High concentrations of ammonia can pollute river water and make it unsafe for use. This not only harms the environment but also poses public health risks,” he said in a statement on July 25.

He stressed that the main causes of ammonia contamination were often linked to untreated sewage, industrial waste and uncontrolled agricultural activities.

“We have collected several water samples at the affected location to monitor the pollution levels.

“We are also working closely with relevant agencies to identify the cause and implement necessary mitigation steps,” he added.

The water operator also organised a special prayer led by the Johor Islamic Religious Department, Guru Takmir Mohd Zunnurain Abdul Khohar and attended by company staff with members of the local community at the plant.

Ranhill SAJ has urged the public, including local communities and industries, to play an active role in protecting rivers and preserving the environment to ensure the long-term sustainability of clean water resources in Johor. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK