SHAH ALAM, 9 May: A professor at the Biology Department, Science Faculty, Putra University, Malaysia (UPM), Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail, has asked certain parties to stop disputing the safety of water from former mines being pumped into Sungai Selangor.
Dr Ahmad said that the mine water samples have been sent to the Chemistry Department of Malaysia, showing that the content of iron, magnesium, nickel and led are below levels allowed by the Ministry of Health.
“The water is treated per the criteria of the National Standards for Drinking Water, and the research was confirmed by the ministry and chemistry department. It should not be doubted anymore.
“If the water is consumed straight from the mine source, then it is a danger. If it has been treated and tested, then it is safe,” he said, quoted from the Sinar Harian portal.
Dr Ahmad, also the Vice President of the Malaysian Nature Society, said that if the study was conducted according the rules and the quality of drinking water, according to standards has been audited, then it is acceptable.
“Drinking water requirements and studies according to parameters are required. If there is a desire to test it again, it is complicated because we have to take into account quality, procedure and variety based on certain principles,” he said.
Prior to this, there have been some disputes claiming that the alternative mine water, as an extra supply when Selangor faces water crisis, is a threat to the safety of consumers in the Klang Valley.
The Selangor Water Management Authority (SWMA) and the State Government have also defended the water’s safety by informing that 27 parameters of mine water have been tested, covering physical, metal and heavy metal categories.
Analysis shows that the parameters of heavy metals in the pools comply with the standards limit set by the Ministry of Health.
