BY STUART MICHAEL

Air Selangor and SPAN officers at the construction site where water was being illegally stolen in Taman Garing Indah, Rawang.

A CONSTRUCTION site in Taman Garing Indah, Rawang, had its water supply cut during a raid by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.

Air Selangor had uncovered an illegal connection to the main water pipe at the construction site.

Water had been tapped using a 25mm pipe from the main 150mm pipe leading to the workers’ quarters and water tanks.

Air Selangor estimated about RM163,344 of treated water had been stolen over the past 427 days, equal to 71,642.06 cubic metres.

Air Selangor corporate communication general manager Siti Zubaidah Zakaria said from Jan 1 to Sept 19, there were 4.043 cases reported.

“Water theft is rampant in construction sites,” she said.

Water had been tapped using a 25mm pipe from the main 150mm pipe leading to the workers’ quarters and water tanks.

National Water Services Commission (SPAN) senior corporate communications executive Loh Pit Mui said the project on the site had been revived with a new developer taking over.

“The former developer had an account with Air Selangor as at July last year but it was terminated. Since then, the new developer has not registered an account.

“Chlorine tests on water samples taken from the illegal connection confirmed it was treated water.

“Anyone other than a licensee found tapping into the main connection is guilty under Section 123 (1) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006.

“Our enforcement officers hope to raise public awareness on the consequences of water theft and illegal connections.

“Many households in Rawang are suffering from low water pressure because of the theft,” said Loh.

To help prevent water theft, call the SPAN Enforcement Division at 03-8317 9333 or email aduan@span.gov.my