The Environment Agency is investigating after residents reported a huge 'foam iceberg' polluting a stretch of the River Irk in Middleton. Video shared with the Manchester Evening News showed a 10ft tall pile of foam on top of the water after it had crashed over a weir on Thursday night.
Resident reports stinging odour
Eye-witness Wayne Brady reported an odour stinging the back of his throat and is captured saying during one clip: "Never seen anything like that on a river... It's disgusting." He told the M.E.N: "When I got close to it could feel it on my throat as I was breathing... It was really sticky too."
Residents and a local angling club reported the incident to the Environment Agency (EA), which today (Saturday August 15, 2026) confirmed it had launched an investigation.
Angling club warns of wildlife damage
Michael Duddy, chairman of Salford Friendly Anglers' Society which was founded in 1817, said: "We've had pollution on the Irwell in Radcliffe, and now this pollution on the Irk - the river levels are already very low because of the drought and these events will be very damaging to wildlife. This pollution has been reported to the EA."
He continued: "Manchester's rivers have more sewage overflows per mile than anywhere else in the UK, more weirs per mile than anywhere else in the UK, the highest amount of microplastics than any other rivers in the UK. And our wildlife - though it's in slow recovery - the numbers of fish, birds, otters etc are very low in comparison to elsewhere. So when we get incidents like this, they are a massive setback to wildlife."
EA takes samples
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Our officers are investigating reports of a possible incident in the River Irk. When visiting the site today there were no visible signs of pollution, but a smell of detergent was identified and water samples were taken."
The incident is a serious setback to recent attempts to rejuvenate the Irk. Manchester City Council has launched its 'Irk Valley Project' which aims to 'rejuvenate and regenerate areas of land within the Irk Valley catchment'. Last week the M.E.N. reported how an 'unidentified substance' turned the River Irwell a 'milky green' colour in Radcliffe. The EA is investigating that incident too. Anyone who witnesses a suspected pollution incident can report it to the EA incident hotline 0800 807060.
