SUNGAI PETANI, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- A total of 270 compliance notices for septic tank emptying were issued today by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) to premises owners in the business area here after they were found to have failed to empty their septic tanks as scheduled.
SPAN Operations Division Enforcement Section director Ainal Yusman Mohamad Yusop said the notices were issued through Ops Padi 2, which took place from Aug 4 to 6, involving inspections of 341 premises, comprising 242 commercial premises and 99 domestic premises.
"All these premises were found to have failed to comply with the notice for septic tank emptying issued by Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK).
"Through today's operation, SPAN took enforcement action by issuing compliance notices for the emptying of septic tanks," he said to reporters after conducting the operation at Taman Sejati Indah here today.
He said that most of the premises inspected were built in the 1970s and 1980s, while the majority of the septic tanks at these premises had not been maintained for a long time.
"There are cases where septic tanks have not been maintained for more than 10 to 15 years. In fact, there are records showing that the last time a septic tank at a premises was maintained was in 1997 and 1999.
"Under Section 65(1)(c) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655), premises owners must maintain the system by appointing a licensed service provider or permit holder to carry out desludging work on the septic tanks at their respective premises," he said.
Ainal Yusman also said that premises owners who receive the notice are given a 14-day period to respond and take action to empty their septic tank.
"If you fail to do so, follow-up actions will be taken, including issuing a notice of offence or opening an investigation.
"Anyone who violates that subsection commits an offence and, upon conviction, may be fined not exceeding RM50,000," he added.
-- BERNAMA