JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 1 — Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, has temporarily suspended operations at its Johor River Waterworks (JRWW) due to a pollution incident in the Johor River.

PUB assured the public that water supply in Singapore remains unaffected, as it has stepped up production at local plants to meet demand, The Straits Times reported.

The suspension is a precautionary measure, and operations will resume once water quality returns to normal.

“PUB is monitoring the raw water quality in the Johor River closely,” the agency said in a statement.

The pollution is believed to stem from a damaged “bund silt pond” linked to sand dredging activities upstream. According to Bernama, the incident caused a holding pond at a sand mining company to burst.

Johor Environment Department director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff confirmed that the state’s water regulatory body has ordered an immediate halt to the sand dredging operations.

However, he noted that the escaped silt could not be contained and continues to flow into the river.

The muddy water has had a severe environmental impact, with local residents voicing alarm after hundreds of dead fish were found in the river.

Bernama reported that residents have since lodged police reports regarding the incident.