KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — An illegal factory on Jalan Batu Arang near Rawang was raided today on suspicion that it was responsible for the oil pollution in Sungai Selangor that triggered a water crisis affecting over one million people.

According to The Star Online, several authorities, including the Selayang Municipal Council, police and the Selangor Department of Environment, moved in on the factory and found that it was still operational despite having been compounded 14 times for some RM34,000.

The portal reported that oil from the Muhibbah factory, which manufactures roll-on/roll-off containers and compactors, was dumped into one of Sungai Gong’s tributaries, which flows into Sungai Selangor.

“The owner was conducting various heavy industrial activities on this lot, including collecting waste oil and reprocessing it. They were discharging the waste oil from the two lorry tankers owned by the business,” council president Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain was quoted as saying in the report.

Following today’s raid, the factory will be shut down and sealed, The Star Online reported, pending further investigation on the list of violations it may have committed.

The spill yesterday had forced the closure of four treatment plants — Sungai Selangor Fasa 1 (SSP1), Sungai Selangor Fasa 2 (SSP2), Sungai Selangor Fasa 3 (SSP3) and Air Rantau Panjang — affecting over one million consumers in areas spanning Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Klang, Shah Alam, Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor.

According to a Bernama report yesterday quoting Syabas Corporate Communications and Public Affair Department assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) had detected the water pollution at 8am yesterday. The plants were shut down an hour later.

In its latest update today, Syabas announced that water supply to residents in some parts of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur was resumed this morning after operations at four water treatment plants were restarted.

“As of 10am, August 31, 2013, a few areas of affected consumers have started receiving water supply again despite a low (water) pressure.

“In relation to that, it is estimated that the total number of affected consumer accounts has dropped to around 880,000 accounts and is 60 per cent of the total consumer accounts in six districts, that is Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/ Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor,” the water supply company said in a press statement.

The company also said that water supply to the Kuala Langat area was now fully restored, but noted that the other affected areas would gradually start receiving water over the next few days.

“Syabas expects the supply of treated water that will resume in stages in areas still affected to reach 80 per cent in three more days, with full restoration in a week’s time,” it added.