Bizarre 'Foam Iceberg' Mystery on Middleton River Sparks Environmental Probe

Environment Agency officials have launched an investigation following reports of a substantial 'foam iceberg' polluting a section of the River Irk in Middleton. Residents and a local angling club raised alarms after a 10-foot-tall pile of foam was observed on the water, having cascaded over a weir on Thursday night. Eye-witness Wayne Brady described an odour that stung the back of his throat and noted the foam was 'really sticky', expressing his dismay by stating, "Never seen anything like that on a river... It's disgusting."

The incident was officially reported to the Environment Agency (EA), which confirmed on Saturday, August 15, 2026, that an investigation was underway. Michael Duddy, chairman of the Salford Friendly Anglers' Society, emphasized the severity of the pollution. He highlighted that river levels are already significantly low due to ongoing drought conditions, making such events exceptionally damaging to local wildlife. Duddy also drew attention to the broader environmental challenges faced by Manchester's rivers, noting they possess the highest number of sewage overflows and weirs per mile, alongside the highest levels of microplastics in the UK. He lamented that such pollution incidents represent a "massive setback to wildlife" that is only in slow recovery.

Wayne Brady, who captured a series of videos of the 'foam iceberg' between Bonny Brow Street and the M60 motorway, shared his firsthand experience with the Manchester Evening News. He reiterated the unpleasant sensation of the foam's smell on his throat when he got close. This latest pollution incident is considered a significant blow to ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the River Irk, particularly the 'Irk Valley Project' initiated by Manchester City Council, which aims to regenerate areas within the Irk Valley catchment.

The River Irk incident follows closely on the heels of another reported pollution event last week, where an 'unidentified substance' turned the River Irwell a 'milky green' colour in Radcliffe, an incident also under investigation by the EA. In response to the foam on the River Irk, an Environment Agency spokesperson stated that although no visible signs of pollution were present when officers visited the site, a distinct smell of detergent was detected, prompting the collection of water samples. The EA urged anyone who observes a suspected pollution incident to report it to their incident hotline at 0800 807060.