Chlorine Not Harmful If Used In Right Amounts

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Additional chlorine used to reduce the effects of ammonia in raw water at several treatment plants in Selangor will not endanger health if stipulated amounts are used, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said Tuesday.
"They (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas)) have the measurements," he told Bernama here.
Latiff was asked to comment on the public's concern over the safety of piped water supplied by Syabas to residents in Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Langat, which from Saturday had a foul smell.
Syabas explained in a statement yesterday that the smell was due to higher concentrations of ammonia in Sungai Selangor, the source of raw water for the areas concerned.
It said the situation was caused by the overflow of dirty water from drainage systems and ponds into the river as a result of heavy rain.
Syabas said action had been taken by the treatment plant operators to reduce the amount of ammonia by increasing the chlorine content in the raw water.
Syabas also gave the assurance that the water supplied by it was safe for use.
Abdul Latiff said that if the problem of increased ammonia in water was not overcome, it could endanger health.
Among the effects were that babies would suffer a shortage of oxygen supply in the blood if they consumed water with excessive ammonia, he added.