We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
A few days after the initial foamy scene at the Charlie Russell statue in Chinook the foam has steadily been going away. Still, nearly a week after the original onslaught of soap by practical jokers, the soap foam begins to build as the pumps begin each morning. Those in the know say time will take care of most of the problem.
Alert readers may recall two photos in the September 5 issue of the "Journal" of the mysterious foam at the outdoor fountain at the southeast corner of the Grande Villa's grounds. Regarding the origin of the foam, the question was: Is the foam at Charlie Russell's feet from natural causes or from prankster-induced soap? Locals were about evenly split on the cause, some recalling having seen similar suds after rains and others convinced it was the act of tricksters. I was asked to find the answer, and here it is. But first, some background.
Foam on moving
water can be natural
Per a website selling foam-prevention products, "Foam is a common problem in both outdoor and indoor fountains, usually caused by an excess of proteins and other organic compounds left behind by bacteria, plants, or animals. The compounds form a slick layer on the surface, which is then churned up into foam by the splashing water." The explanation also notes late summer is often a time when the foam phenomenon occurs and fountains sitting in all-day sun, like the one at the Villa, are especially prone to experience the natural foam.
This natural foam is often seen on moving water, like rivers and streams, irrigation canals and natural waterfalls. One notable difference in the natural foam from what was observed in the Villa's fountain is the color. The natural foam tends to a 'brownish' color while soap foam is typically very bright and white in color.
Several longtime residents at the Villa recalled seeing what they believed to be natural foam after a rain. The fact there had not been a recent rain tended to sway the verdict to soap-induced foam, but there was more evidence to be considered.
The foam at the Villa sure looked and acted like it was made from soap
Ron Gauthier, with RRR Plumbing in Chinook, does most of the plumbing work at the Villa. One day into this full blown investigation Ron happened to be at the Villa on another matter. I hailed him in the back parking lot and he accompanied me up to the fountain. He stuck his hand into the foam and said, "It doesn't really feel slippery."
But, based on several prior foam occurrences, Gauthier added, "From the color of the foam and the way it restarts every morning when the pumps start, tells me this foam is caused by soap." He also thought it was likely liquid soap. He said, "Dishwasher soap for automated dishwashers is granulated so it will more quickly and efficiently be flushed from the appliance. Liquid soap is much harder to clear and that is why this foam has persisted for several days. The foam dissipates when the pumps shutdown in the evening but there is still soap in the system and it starts foaming as soon as the pumps restart in the morning." He said eventually the soap will clear.
I took a sample of the water to the crew at Chinook's Wastewater Treatment facility. They said they had no real way to test for soap in the sample but they could look at it under a microscope and maybe find evidence for either soap or natural. Later Eric Miller, the head of the treatment plant, said, "We put the sample under a microscope. It's definitely soap." He added there was no suggestion of other organic compounds like those that would be expected from a natural foam.
Conclusion: it was
soap this time
So, there you have it. Someone put soap in the fountain. But remember, it can also be a natural phenomenon as well. Thanks to all the readers who offered opinions on this issue, no matter how erroneous those opinions turned out to be.
