Experts think bacteria caused lake frothing

Hyderabad: Did overload of certain bacteria cause the water bodies to explode with foam? 

In a new development, the Pollution Control Board has sent water samples of major water bodies to check the content of the bacteria called fllamentous, which is commonly found in sewage and is good at naturally cleaning the lake. 

Experts said that these organisms with their long tails might be raking up the froth in the water.

“They are present in activated sewage, and help in breaking it down. But when in large numbers they can move around in the sewage water which is filled with detergents and chemicals and can produce foam,” said Ms Charvitha P, a microbiologist at Zeal Laboratories, which is conducting the identification process.

These bacteria tend to multiply in large numbers through fusion and chemical factors can contribute in increasing their numbers. 

“Petrochemical industry and oil based refineries can release waste that can increase the presence of this bacteria,” she added.

BV Subba Rao, expert on lake conservation, said that bacteria alone cannot be blamed. “Foam comes from 3 elements detergents, polymer or hydrocarbon-based industry waste or oil water-based operations. 

The government must identify which is triggering the froth and address it immediately.”

This bacteria may be behind the foaming at RK Puram where refineries were caught releasing their pig waste directly.

So the foam that builds up on the lakes and flies into the homes nearby, carry this bacteria? “The foam may not only carry the bacteria but also the chemicals it mixed with,” said Ms Charvitha. 

She added that, if this enters the food chain then diseases like food poisoning and diarrhoea would occur.