Discover the mystery of the Rhine foam

2002/08/07 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Botanika
• Ingurumena

At first they thought that the foam was due to discharges from industries or the water treatment station near the river. But when measures were taken to control the spills, the foam remained intact. In addition, the analyses showed that there was no abnormal contamination and that the remains of household and industrial detergent
were not enough to produce so much foam.

Later they realized that at the same time that foam began to appear, a plant increased a lot. This plant is Ranunculus fluitans and is widespread in rivers and streams throughout Europe. The problem is that it produces a substance that produces foam, saponin. And in summer it produces more saponin, that is, foam is much more evident when there are more tourists.

However, the first suspicions were not so wrong. In fact, if this plant has increased disproportionately, it is due to phosphates emitted by industries for years. Subsequently, with
the commissioning of the water treatment station, the sediment was reduced, which favored the expansion of the plant.

Although the foam raises suspicions, although the saponin level is 50 times higher than that of the river, it would not be toxic to the plants and animals of the river. Drinking water is also taken from a subfluvial layer and is completely safe. At least now they know what causes the foam and it is not little.

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