A WASTE WATER consultant has called on the Government to conduct an independent audit of Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) operations to determine its level of efficiency.
The call comes in the wake of a series of bungled incidents at IWK treatment plants.
The latest bungle happened a month ago at its multi-million-ringgit Kuala Sawah Sewage Treatment Plant when workers dumped 900 tonnes of sludge into a trench in the area.
“This is not the first time IWK has found an easy way to solve its problem by dumping sludge,” said G. Parameswaran who has undertaken several waste water projects locally and abroad.
Parameswaran, a senior consultant then with HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, was engaged by the Government together with the British company, North West Water to undertake the privatisation of waste water in 1993 before IWK took shape.
He said IWK was a liability rather than an asset to the country.
“The government is pumping in RM100mil per year to maintain IWK operations but it is not run efficiently,” he said.
“Why must the Government waste taxpayers’ money when there are others in the industry who can do a better job?” asked Parameswaran who is the Gerakan environment, quality and health bureau head (specialised soil technology).
Parameswaran believed the problem at the Kuala Sawah plant could have been easily resolved if handled professionally.
In the case of Kuala Sawah, there was lack of communication and a management which did not know much about waste water business.
“The problem of finding a place to dispose of the sludge has led to other problems.
“The mechanical thickner is now jammed up due to accumulation of polymer and sludge,” he said, adding the thickner had to be cleaned every 13 hours or so using water jet equipment.
Overall IWK lacked technical personnel, Parameswaran said.
“They roped in people without know-how on waste water operations and most of its unit heads are non-technical people.”
He said what happened in Kuala Sawah would have gone unnoticed if not for the press highlighting it.
“I suggest the Government conduct an independent audit of its operations throughout the country,” he added.
Parameswaran said due to lack of proper maintenance IWK plants looked run down compared with similar plants in Japan and other developed countries.
He questioned why waste water was run as a separate entity.
“In most developed countries water and waste water are run as a single concept.
“I don’t know why they have to be separated and given to different companies,” he said.
He added that the best solution was to merge and let a water company take over because they had enough experience and could operate efficiently. - TheStar
The call comes in the wake of a series of bungled incidents at IWK treatment plants.
The latest bungle happened a month ago at its multi-million-ringgit Kuala Sawah Sewage Treatment Plant when workers dumped 900 tonnes of sludge into a trench in the area.
“This is not the first time IWK has found an easy way to solve its problem by dumping sludge,” said G. Parameswaran who has undertaken several waste water projects locally and abroad.
Not a pretty sight: Algae that has invaded the sentimentation tank after operations were tuned down due to the massive outflow of sludge.
Parameswaran, a senior consultant then with HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, was engaged by the Government together with the British company, North West Water to undertake the privatisation of waste water in 1993 before IWK took shape.
He said IWK was a liability rather than an asset to the country.
“The government is pumping in RM100mil per year to maintain IWK operations but it is not run efficiently,” he said.
“Why must the Government waste taxpayers’ money when there are others in the industry who can do a better job?” asked Parameswaran who is the Gerakan environment, quality and health bureau head (specialised soil technology).
Parameswaran believed the problem at the Kuala Sawah plant could have been easily resolved if handled professionally.
In the case of Kuala Sawah, there was lack of communication and a management which did not know much about waste water business.
“The problem of finding a place to dispose of the sludge has led to other problems.
“The mechanical thickner is now jammed up due to accumulation of polymer and sludge,” he said, adding the thickner had to be cleaned every 13 hours or so using water jet equipment.
Overall IWK lacked technical personnel, Parameswaran said.
“They roped in people without know-how on waste water operations and most of its unit heads are non-technical people.”
He said what happened in Kuala Sawah would have gone unnoticed if not for the press highlighting it.
“I suggest the Government conduct an independent audit of its operations throughout the country,” he added.
Parameswaran said due to lack of proper maintenance IWK plants looked run down compared with similar plants in Japan and other developed countries.
He questioned why waste water was run as a separate entity.
“In most developed countries water and waste water are run as a single concept.
“I don’t know why they have to be separated and given to different companies,” he said.
He added that the best solution was to merge and let a water company take over because they had enough experience and could operate efficiently. - TheStar
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