BY PRIYA MENON

IWK is currently investigating the source of the illegal discharge that is causing a foul smell in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

AFTER two weeks of complaining about a foul smell permeating in Bandar Puteri Puchong, the authorities visited a sewage treatment plant to get to the root of the problem.

It was discovered that factories had illegally dumped industrial waste into the sewage system.

Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han, who visited the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) treatment plant in Jalan Mawar, said he had received complaints from Puteri 12, Puteri 10 and Bayan residents.

He said he had also received complaints from residents about overflowing manholes at several areas in Bandar Puteri.

Resident Alice Choo, who was also present during the spot check, said the areas badly affected by the problem were Jalan Puteri 12/5, Laman Puteri 2 and Laman Puteri 3.

IWK officials also told Ng and media members that the smell was a result of illegal dumping of industrial waste down toilets and sinks.

IWK corporate communications senior manager Shahrul Nizam Sulaiman said the treatment plant, that catered for 83,000 residents, was only equipped to manage domestic waste and not industrial waste.

Such irresponsible acts, he said, had hampered the plant's cleaning process and caused the smell.

“We strongly urge people to refrain from discharging any other waste apart from human waste.

"We are currently investigating the source of the illegal discharge,” he added.

Shahrul said the overflowing manhole was caused by tree roots growing inside the pipelines which blocked water flow during a downpour.

IWK had placed CCTVs to identify the location of the roots before clearing them.

“We will need to use a robot to assist us to cut off the roots and do the patch-up work. It is a long, slow and expensive process,” he added.

They started work at Puteri 12 and expect it to be completed in a month before starting on another location.