Foam Engulfs Australian Beach

[Intentional Drifter]

You mean Sydney has no sewage treatment plants? Oh, my. But, we have a similar problem in Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Victoria BC has no sewage treatment plants, either. Seattle spent really, really big bucks 15 or so years ago, but it has been worth it.

ID

[Boracay]

Unless I have my wires crossed (again) Yamba is on the North Coast of NSW, some seven hours drive north of Sydney.

[GordMay]

The process of sewage treatment is generally divided into Primary , Secondary , and Tertiary Treatment; depending on the degree to which the effluent is purified:
How Does A Sewage Treatment Plant Work?
http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biolo...SEWAGE/STP.HTM

In primary treatment, screening and sedimentation remove some of the suspended solids and organic matter. The effluent from primary treatment will contain high amounts of organic matter.
Secondary sewage treatment is directed at the removal of biodegradable organic and suspended solids, mainly using biological unit processes. Disinfection may be included in secondary sewage treatment.
Tertiary sewage treatment includes the removal of nutrients, toxic substances including heavy metals and further removal of suspended solids and organic. Effluent from tertiary treatment is of a higher standard and generally suitable for reuse.

[44'cruisingcat]

I once thought I was swimming in the sea at Bondi. But I was just going through the motions.

[Steve Pope]

this is in a country that in Queensland at least that will fine you thousands of dollars if they find a turd floating near your boat. see <www.thecoastalpassage.com>

[David M]

Certain types of plankton create oils and proteins. This creates seafoam...which is a natural occurrence...so I have been told by my marine biologists passengers.

These pictures are pretty awesome:

Diving Malaysia » Strong currents cover Australia beach with sea foam

Telegraph | Picture Gallery | BEACH FOAM SPECTACLE

It's primary cause can be totally natural.

[dana-tenacity]

I say the sydney folk should keep on swimming undeterred

(under turd, get it, oh I give up)

[Mike Banks]

The Sydney outfalls are typical of the attitude of governments to problems.

First they do not want to aknowledge them.
Then when they are finally unable to avoid facing problem situations, they do not want to solve them--they want to hide them.

Dumping raw sewage and heavy metals into the deep ocean is poor pratice--but it is put of sight--