- Image by Coradia1000 via Flickr
Thick bubbles measuring an amazing 10 feet deep and up to 150 feet long puzzled environmental experts today as they choked the River Irk in England.
The Sun has published an impressive photograph of the bubble filled river.
The River Irk, Middleton near Greater Manchester is believed to be the site of a chemical spill. Indeed the Robert McBride Ltd factory is situated just up stream of the visually stunning bubbles manufactures soap and detergent.
The United Kingdom’s Environment Agency sent inspectors to the site who spotted dead fish and reported ducks and ducklings swimming through the heavily contaminated water.
A spokes person from the soap factor admitted that they had found water flowing from a retaining wall to the river but was puzzled as to the source of the leak.
Gordon Whitaker, environmental manager for Manchester, said, “We are carrying out an ecological assessment to determine any impact on invertebrates in the river, this involves taking water samples,”
“The flow through the outfall has now been diverted into a tanker, therefore we are happy that the substance has now stopped entering the water.
“We are awaiting the return of other water samples to determine what the substance is.”
The river connects downstream into the River Irwell and flows further into the centre of Manchester and Salford.
In Pure Spirit
The visuals effect of a river entirely filled with huge white foam may be impressive but the potential damage to the environment is terrible. Should there be a single strike system against factories which leak into rivers – they’re shut down on the very first leak and are not allowed to re-open until the Environment Agency allows?
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