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SINGAPORE \u2013 Singapore authorities are monitoring bodies of water in Johor following two incidents of pollution.<\/p>\n
The National Environment Agency, in a Facebook post on Nov 1, said that one incident affects the Johor River and was caused by sand mining activities, while the second involves a palm oil spill that affects coastal waters off Kampung Pasir Putih. <\/p>\n
It added that it is in touch with the Department of Environment in Johor and understands that the sources of pollution from both incidents have been contained and stopped. <\/p>\n
\u201cOil clean-up is also ongoing and most of the palm oil has been cleaned up,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
It said water quality in Singapore has been normal, and the shoreline and local fish farms have not been affected so far. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Singapore Food Agency is working closely with fish farms in the East Johor Strait to take the necessary preventive measures,\u201d said NEA. <\/p>\n
It added that the National Parks Board has not observed any impact on biodiversity-rich sites at Pulau Ubin, Coney Island Park, Pasir Ris Park or Changi Beach Park. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, operations at PUB\u2019s Johor River Waterworks have been temporarily suspended, the national water agency said earlier on Nov 1.<\/p>\n
In response to media queries, it said it was aware of a water pollution incident affecting the Johor River.<\/p>\n
However, PUB also said that water supply in Singapore remains unaffected as it has stepped up production at local plants to meet demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cPUB is monitoring the raw water quality in the Johor River closely,\u201d it added, noting that the suspension is a precautionary measure. \u201cOperations will resume when water quality checks show that the Johor River quality is back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malaysia\u2019s Environment Department on Oct 31 confirmed damage to a \u201cbund silt pond\u201d believed to be caused by sand dredging activities upstream, reported Bernama.<\/p>\n
The report quoted Johor\u2019s Environment Department director, Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff, as saying that the state\u2019s water regulatory body has ordered an immediate stop to the sand dredging operations.<\/p>\n
However, he added then that the escaped silt could not be contained and that it continued to flow into the river.<\/p>\n
Residents surveyed by Bernama expressed concern after hundreds of fish were found dead because of the muddy water in the river.<\/p>\n
The news outlet said the muddiness is believed to have been caused by a burst holding pond belonging to a sand mining company, and that residents have made police reports in response.<\/p>\n