Water supply from Johor River disrupted due to chicken poop; PUB to step up local production

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Singapore’s supply of water from the Johor River Waterworks (JRWW) was disrupted on Saturday morning as ammonia pollution wrecked the Johor River.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering what caused the spike in ammonia levels — it was chicken poop from an illegal poultry farm close to the river near Kota Tinggi, according to New Straits Times.

Thankfully, Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) assured the public that it would be stepping up production at local desalination plants and waterworks during the temporary stoppage of treatment operations at JRWW. As such, the water supply here will not be affected, said the board.

“PUB is monitoring the raw water quality in the Johor River and will resume abstraction and treatment of raw water when the water quality is suitable.”

The signing of the Johor River Water Agreement in ’62 gives Singapore the full and exclusive right to draw water from Johor River up to a maximum of 250 million gallons or 1.14 million cubic metres per day.

Fun fact: Singapore’s own reclaimed water — NEWater — is, in fact, potable water reclaimed from our own wastewater.

Though things are fine here, Malaysian media reported yesterday that the forced temporary shutdown of three water treatment plants will affect 1.8 million people in Johor Bahru due to water supply disruptions.

Johor Department of Environment (DoE) director Dr. Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh revealed that the cause of the pollution stemmed from improper storage techniques at the farm, which also makes fertilizer from chicken manure.

“The fertilizer products and chicken manure are stacked and exposed to the elements,” he said to NST.

“When it rains, the water soaks these items and the water seeps into the ground and flows into the river. This leads to the high content of ammonia in the river.”

The farm — which operated without the approval of DoE — will be properly shut down by the state government.



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