By Why Does Bellandur Lake Foam So Much?
Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru, India, is infamous for its excessive foam, which sometimes spills onto roads, causing traffic chaos. Shockingly, parts of the lake have even caught fire due to methane buildup from untreated sewage. The foam releases toxic chemicals into the air, worsening pollution.
This foaming problem peaks during pre-monsoon and monsoon rains, which puzzled researchers since rain should dilute the chemicals causing foam. A study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) uncovered the reason. Rainwater disrupts sediment in the lake, releasing surfactants—chemicals used in soaps and detergents—into the water. These surfactants, which bind to organic matter in the lake, are usually trapped but become free to create foam when the sediment is disturbed.
The lake’s low oxygen levels, caused by untreated sewage, prevent surfactants from breaking down, allowing them to persist. Researchers simulated these conditions in a lab and confirmed that rainwater can release surfactants from sediments, leading to foaming.
Foaming in Bellandur Lake is a sign of severe pollution and a failing ecosystem. To fix it, the first step is increasing the lake’s oxygen levels, either by adding treated water or algae to help restore balance. Without intervention, the problem will only get worse, as seen in other polluted lakes like Varthur Lake.
tonnes of silt still lying uncleared at 900 acres of Bellandur Lake and officials failing to work on wetlands, the completion of the restoration of Bellandur Lake by December 2024 is up in smoke.
