What is sea foam? Is it harmful? What is the toxic foam that forms in the Yamuna River? Most sea foam is not harmful to humans and is often an indication of a productive ocean ecosystem. But when large harmful algal blooms decay near shore, there is potential for impacts to human health and the environment. Read here to learn more.
The Yamuna River in New Delhi frequently develops a thick layer of toxic foam, a concerning sight, especially around religious festivals such as Chhath Puja, during which people wade into the river for prayers and rituals.
This frothy layer results from high pollution levels in the river, mainly due to untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, which release a large amount of phosphate and ammonia.
These pollutants react with the water’s surface to create foam, especially when the river’s flow is disrupted at certain points, such as dams or barrages.
What is sea foam?
Sea foam forms when organic materials and physical forces combine to create bubbles that cluster together on the ocean’s surface.
Two main factors contribute to its formation:
- Organic Compounds: Dissolved organic materials, like proteins, lipids, and other compounds, reduce the water’s surface tension, allowing bubbles to form more easily. This material can come from a variety of sources:
- Phytoplankton Blooms: Large blooms produce organic compounds as they grow and decay, contributing to foamy water when waves disturb it.
- Decomposing Biomass: The breakdown of algae, dead fish, and other marine organisms can also add to the concentration of organic compounds in seawater.
- Terrestrial Runoff: Urban runoff, sewage, or agricultural runoff brings organic matter from land to sea, potentially fueling foam formation.
- Physical Agitation: For foam to form, air must be continuously introduced into the water. Wind and wave action causes this agitation, capturing air within the water and creating bubbles. As waves break on the shore, organic matter stabilizes the bubbles, resulting in thick, stable foam that can accumulate along coastlines.
Sea foam is often harmless, although it can sometimes indicate pollution if organic matter originates from sewer overflows or nutrient-rich runoff, which can fuel harmful algal blooms.
Toxic foam in Yamuna River
The toxic foam in the Yamuna River, especially visible around Delhi, is a recurring environmental issue primarily caused by high levels of industrial pollution, untreated sewage, and chemical runoff.
The foam is made up of a mix of surfactants (found in detergents and soaps), industrial chemicals, and organic waste that reacts with water and air, forming frothy white clusters.
This foam often accumulates near key areas, including the Okhla Barrage, particularly around festival times when pollution spikes due to increased activity and rituals.
Main Causes of Foam in the Yamuna River
- Industrial and Domestic Waste: Untreated or partially treated waste from factories and households carries detergents, phosphates, and nitrates, which create foam when they enter the river. According to reports, over 200 million litres of untreated sewage enter the Yamuna daily in Delhi alone, largely contributing to the toxic build-up.
- Phosphate-Heavy Detergents and Chemicals: Phosphates in laundry detergents act as surfactants, helping form foam when they enter rivers and mix with other pollutants. These chemicals also contribute to eutrophication, where excess nutrients lead to algal blooms and reduced oxygen levels, further harming aquatic life.
- Low Flow and Reduced Dilution Capacity: The Yamuna’s flow is particularly low in Delhi due to upstream diversions and extraction. This reduced water volume limits the river’s ability to dilute pollutants, causing toxic elements to concentrate and form foam.
Environmental and Health Impacts
- Health Hazards: Direct exposure to this toxic foam can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal infections. During festivals like Chhath Puja, devotees often stand in the river, putting them at high risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and pathogens present in the foam. These health risks are compounded for vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly.
- Ecological Damage: The high pollutant levels contributing to the foam also threaten aquatic ecosystems. Toxic chemicals reduce oxygen levels in the water, causing harm to fish and other marine organisms, and further impacting biodiversity in the river.
Efforts and Challenges in Addressing the Issue
Key contributors to the pollution include untreated or inadequately treated sewage from Delhi and surrounding areas, industrial discharge, and runoff containing phosphates from detergents.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi government have periodically announced measures to address the river’s pollution, such as wastewater treatment plant upgrades and pollution controls for industries.
- However, sustained efforts, stricter enforcement, and more advanced waste treatment technologies are necessary for long-term solutions.
- Several efforts, including setting up sewage treatment plants, enforcing regulations on industrial discharge, and banning certain types of detergents, have been proposed.
However, issues with implementation, lack of enforcement, and inadequate infrastructure continue to exacerbate the problem.
Chhath Puja
During recent years, the presence of toxic foam in the Yamuna River has become a concerning issue, especially during Chhath Puja.
Chhath Puja is an important Hindu festival celebrated in northern India, particularly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and regions around Delhi.
The festival is dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya and involves prayers for health, prosperity, and well-being.
The celebration holds water bodies in special reverence as they are considered essential for performing the rituals associated with this festival.
During Chhath Puja, worshippers gather along riverbanks, lakes, ponds, and other water bodies to perform rituals that include offering prayers to the rising and setting Sun.
Conclusion
The visible foam on the Yamuna has become a recurring issue during this season, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts to improve wastewater management and restore the health of this vital river.
Despite multiple government initiatives and court interventions, pollution control remains a challenge.
Addressing the toxic foam issue in the Yamuna requires coordinated action from government authorities, industrial bodies, and local communities to ensure proper waste treatment and to reduce the inflow of harmful chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the cause of foam in the Yamuna River?
Ans: The foamy layer on the surface of the river is caused by the reaction between toxins and organic matter, including untreated sewage and industrial waste. Oils and greases from rotting vegetation mix with chemicals, creating foam that floats on the water.
Q. Is Yamuna water safe to drink?
Ans: Based on area, the catchment basin of Yamuna amounts to 40.2% of the Ganga Basin and 10.7% of the country. River Yamuna ‘close to death’ a study in 2016 warns Delhi’s waterway is ‘toxic’ even after treatment and should not be used for drinking or irrigation.
Related articles:
- Water pollution
- Groundwater depletion and contamination
- Solar radiation management
- Oil spill disasters
-Article by Swathi Satish
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