Keelung River Again Sees White Foam; Pumping Station Halted Amid Investigation

Large quantities of unexplained white foam have reappeared in the Keelung River, flowing from the Dingnei drainage channel near Dingnei Suspension Bridge. The incident prompted local authorities to temporarily suspend pumping operations at the Bado Station, with water supply now being managed by the Xinshan Reservoir.

“

The Keelung River today evening again appeared with a large amount of foam. People discovered a large amount of white foam in the drainage channel near Dingnei Suspension Bridge, flowing into the Keelung River.

Environmental protection personnel have rushed to the scene to deploy containment booms and collect water samples to investigate the source of the foam. This latest event has alarmed residents, particularly after a similar oil pollution incident last year that affected the city's tap water supply. Multiple pollution incidents have occurred in the Keelung River since then, leading to public frustration.

City Councilor Chen Guan-yu and Lien En-tien were notified by residents and subsequently alerted various city government departments, including the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Fire Department. Chen Guan-yu, who had just urged the Environmental Protection Bureau to take more proactive measures regarding recent oil pollution, expressed concern that the monitoring and response mechanisms still require strengthening.

“

It doesn't look like fire-fighting foam, but more like wastewater illegally discharged from places like laundromats or car washes.

He called for the establishment of a real-time monitoring and early warning system. This system would enable the city to detect anomalies and implement immediate interception measures, thereby reducing the impact on the Keelung River and drinking water safety, rather than relying solely on public reports after pollution occurs. Initial observations suggest the foam may resemble wastewater from laundromats or car washes, rather than fire-fighting foam, though the exact source remains under investigation.

“

Since the oil pollution incident last year, pollution events have repeatedly occurred. The problem has not been solved at all, which is simply outrageous.