Chhath Puja 2022: What causes froth in River Yamuna - All you need to know

Chhath Puja Yamuna: The frothing on the Yamuna river in Delhi is now a new normal. Ahead of Chhath Puja every year, political parties indulge in a blamegame over rising levels of toxic elements in the river which is considered to be the lifeline of the national capital. The situation this year is no different. The scenes of frothing on the Yamuna river are once again making the headlines ahead of the Chhath Puja, thanks to the government's lackluster attitude and intent to clean the river and only making hollow promises. 

The pictures of Delhi's polluted Yamuna river are doing the rounds on social media platforms, news channels and Chhath Puja devotees will once again be seen taking dips in the polluted water, inviting shame to the city government.

This time, all major authorities including, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB), the UP Irrigation Department, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have decided that ecofriendly anti-surfactant shall be sprayed from boat-mounted sprayers. 

What causes froth in River Yamuna

Froth is mass of small bubbles in liquid caused by agitation, fermentation, or salivating. According to a report from DNA India, the high level of phosphates in the Yamuna river is what causes such foam to build up. Phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewages from Delhi, Haryana and UP is another reason behind frothing in the river. 

The report mentioned that phosphates are an ingredient used in many detergents. These compounds make cleaning a lot easier. While phosphates and surfactants in the Yamuna river comprise 1 per cent, the remaining 99 per cent is air and water.  

When the water gets disturbed by waves, natural waterfalls or artificial falls from river barrages, the fatty layer gets beaten into a froth.  Also, Industrial effluents, organic matter from decomposing vegetation and the presence of filamentous bacteria cause foam.