Selangor has made notable progress in reducing industrial wastewater discharge into its rivers, with approximately 20% of such water now being reused under the state’s Zero Discharge Policy (ZDP). The initiative, launched in August 2024 by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, aims to curtail pollution loads entering waterways by encouraging premises to recycle and reuse wastewater.

Haslina Amer, chief assistant director of the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), noted that reuse rates vary depending on the type of industry but average around one-fifth across sectors. The policy requires industrial and other relevant premises to obtain licences regulating both the volume and pollutant levels of discharged wastewater. The two primary licences include a return-water licence, which sets limits and fees based on discharge volume, and a waste or pollutant discharge licence, which oversees pollutant content. Fees are structured differently across sectors—for instance, earthworks, aquaculture, and livestock farming are charged based on land area or animal numbers, while industries pay according to water discharged.

Since its implementation, LUAS has issued nearly 7,000 licences, though Haslina emphasized that the rollout remains in its early stages. LUAS officers are conducting door-to-door visits in industrial areas across Selangor’s nine districts to identify facilities requiring ZDP licences, having covered approximately 30% to 40% of targeted areas so far. The authority anticipates the full licensing process could take five to six years due to the extensive number of premises involved. Businesses found to be non-compliant receive notices and are given 14 days to apply for the necessary permits. LUAS also monitors existing licence holders for adherence to conditions, with common issues including failure to submit water quality reports or meet licence requirements.

The policy appears to be yielding positive results. Data from August indicate no water treatment plant shutdowns in Selangor due to industrial pollution throughout 2025 and up to late July 2026. Jamaliah Jamaluddin, chairman of the state’s public health and environment committee, attributed this improvement partly to the ZDP, alongside integrated enforcement actions, 24-hour river basin monitoring, and the Raw Water Guarantee Scheme (SJAM). Prior to the policy’s launch, a significant disruption occurred in July 2024, when four water treatment plants in the Klang Valley were forced to shut down following chemical pollution traced to a factory leak in Sungai Kuang, a tributary of the Selangor River Basin. The factory owner was subsequently convicted and fined under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

The ZDP represents a strategic effort by Selangor to manage its water resources sustainably and improve river water quality by reducing industrial effluent discharge. LUAS continues to work closely with industries to facilitate compliance and enhance environmental monitoring across the state.