Mine Water Not Suitable For Drinking, Says Expert

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Water from an abandoned mining pool is not suitable for use as drinking water as it contained high metal content which can be hazardous to health, an expert said. A lecturer at the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya (UM), Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Jamil Maah said the water movement in such a pool was also almost static, resulting in low oxygen content compared with river water. "Mine water has to be ascertained its quality by listing the composition of metal content, as well as other particles, like micro-organisms and bacteria," he said when contacted by Bernama. He was asked to comment on a statement by Selangor executive council member, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, that the Selangor government would use mine water to meet the supply of water in the Klang Valley in future. Mohd Jamil said mine water contained heavy metals, like plumbum, chromium, arsenic and mercury which were harmful to health. -- BERNAMA