Soapy slick: spillage from waterworks causes 4km pollution trail on River Don

POLLUTION which led to a foam slick on a major Rotherham waterway extending more than two miles downstream has been traced to an “unknown detergent”.

The Environment Agency investigated after the foam was noticed on the surface of the River Don on Friday.

A spokesperson said they had continued to monitor the river over the weekend and “established the cause of the foam to be from an unknown detergent source which entered the Blackburn Meadows Waste Water Treatment Works”.

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They added: “At present, Environment Agency officers have concluded that there has been no impact on the water quality or marine wildlife but are continuing to monitor the situation and working with Yorkshire Water.”

The EA had said on Friday that the weir at Aldwarke was “churning the water to create the foam, extending 4km downstream to Kilnhurst”.

If you suspect signs of water pollution, call the EA’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.