Mystery foam on river and canal in Bath
Large areas of a froth-like substance have been seen on the River Avon and Kennet and Avon Canal through Bath this morning.
Chunks of the white foamy substance were concentrated at Widcombe, and have been breaking up over the course of the day.
Although there has been no official comment yet from the Environment Agency, it is thought the foam is a natural phenomenon resulting from a faster than normal water flow.
It is said to be a regular occurrence, although it provoked a number of comments on Twitter today.
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It is understood that run-off from farms further up the Avon oxygenates in fast-flowing water, causing the unsightly but ultimately harmless foam scum.
The presence of all sorts of materials - from algae to detergents - can reduce surface tension, allowing air bubbles to be created more easily.
When this is combined with high water flows, the bubbles can persist and become foam.
6 Comments
by BV_BV
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 10:14AM
“Thanks Dave. I can only see the first picture, but I was just using the article text which states that a froth-like substance has been seen on the River Avon and Kennet and Avon Canal in Bath. It doesn't specify that the froth has blown onto the canal from the river, hence my possible confusion.”
by capndave
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 9:39AM
“BV_BV I think you'll find the first Pic shows foam in the entrance to the Kennet Canal at Thimble Mill (possibly backwash from the river as it sweeps round the bend). If you're saying it's appearing elsewhere on the canal then we do have a problem.”
by BV_BV
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 9:02AM
“If the foam is thought to originate from fast flowing water, what is happening in the Kennet and Avon to cause this fast flow?”
by mrmeldrew
Monday, March 18 2013, 5:54PM
“Add into the mix the hundreds of SEWERAGE storm overflows and the many sewage works and pumping stations along the river that are legally allowed to discharge RAW sewage into the river in times of excess flow ,its no wonder there are funny things happening !
If you have ever wondered why the branches of the riverbank trees have paper caught in them (amongst other things) after a storm ,the answer is above!”
by capndave
Monday, March 18 2013, 3:44PM
“Talking to Trev the Locky this morning, he's of the same opinion as a few of us. It's the chemical run offs from the agricultural fields further upstream, oxygenated at Pulteney Weir. The EA confirms it's not toxic, but chatting with Tony Murphy who runs the Bath City Boat Trip vessels, he tells me it makes a nasty stain on the sides of his boats.”
by BikerMum
Monday, March 18 2013, 12:03PM
“There was foam upriver at Staverton this morning, after higher than usual water levels at the weekend following earlier heavy rain. Could possibly support the field run-off argument...”