{
  "id": 6236127,
  "title": "Sungai Perak blue water caused by rain, minerals and changes in water flow, state assembly told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/sungai-perak-blue-water-caused-by-rain-minerals-and-changes-in-water",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T04:46:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/08/sungai-perak-blue-water-caused-by-rain-minerals-and-changes-in-water-flow-state-assembly-told/234395"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The blue color of Sungai Perak was attributed to a combination of factors, according to Perak State Legislative Assembly's Teh Kok Lim. The experts from Scieno TW, a department-appointed concessionaire, concluded in their Final Report that the phenomenon was caused by increased runoff from heavy rain, mineral particles, and altered water flow conditions. Teh explained that Hulu Perak is naturally rich in minerals, and heavy rainfall during the event led to more runoff, carrying more mineral particles from open areas into the river system. While rainfall and minerals alone were not enough, the simultaneous occurrence of a sufficient mineral concentration and suitable water flow conditions resulted in the color-changing phenomenon. The narrower Sungai Rui had a faster current, but as it entered the wider Sungai Perak, the flow slowed, allowing fine mineral particles to remain suspended, accumulate, and scatter light, creating the bluish appearance. Sungai Perak has been classified as Class II under the National Water Quality Index, meaning it is suitable for recreational activities, fisheries, and as a raw water source for conventional treatment. The Perak government, through the Department of Environment, continuously carries out enforcement and inspections on various premises, using manual and automated monitoring stations along the Sungai Perak Basin. Any detected changes or deterioration in water quality would be reported to the DOE via the Notification of Pollution Event Level 1 or Level 2 mechanism. The state government is considering various proposals, including a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study to identify pollution sources and establish a state-level task force to monitor and coordinate action among agencies.",
  "summary": "IPOH, Sept 8 — The phenomenon of Sungai Perak turning blue was caused by the interaction of several factors, inclu...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sungai Perak blue water caused by rain, minerals and changes in water flow, state assembly told",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/sungai-perak-blue-water-caused-by-rain-minerals-and-changes-in-water-6237361",
        "published": "2026-09-08T04:46:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}