Foam

(Source: Environmental Assistance and Surface Water Quality Divisions, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 800-662-9278)

The foam phenomenon is often the result of natural processes, not environmental pollution. Foam can be formed when the physical characteristics of the water are altered by the presence of organic materials in the water.

The foam that appears along lakeshores is most often the result of natural die-off of aquatic plants. Plants are made up of organic material, including oils (i.e., corn oil and vegetable oil). When the plants die and decompose, the oils contained in the plant cells are released and float to the surface. Once the oils reach the lake surface, wind and wave action pushes them to the shore. The concentration of the oil changes the physical nature of the water, making foam formation easier. The turbulence and wave action at the beach introduces air into the organically enriched water, which forms the bubbles.

Foam commonly occurs in waters with high organic content such as productive lakes, bog lakes, and in streams that originate from bog lakes, wetlands, or woody areas. Oftentimes, streams that originate from woody areas will have a brown tint in the water. The brown tint is often caused by the presence of tannin, which is a substance that gives wood its brown color. The tannin is released during the decomposition of wood along with other materials that cause foaming when they are introduced in water. It is quite common to find foam in dark-colored streams, especially during late fall and winter, when plant materials are decomposing in the water.

Some foam in water can indicate pollution. When deciding if the foam is natural or caused by pollution, consider the following:

Wind direction or turbulence
Natural foam occurrences on the beach coincide with the onshore winds. Often, windrows of foam can be found along a shoreline and streaks of foam may form on open waters during windy days. Natural occurrences in rivers can be found downstream of a turbulent site.

Proximity to a potential pollution source
Some entities such as the textile industry, paper production facilities, oil industries, and fire fighting activities work with materials that cause foaming in water. If these materials are released to a water body in large quantities, they can cause foaming. In addition, the presence of silt in water, such as from a construction site can cause foam.

Presence of decomposing plants or organic material in the water.

Natural foam is usually persistent, light, not slimy to the touch.

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