The Kyiv City State Administration explained why the Dnipro River turned green and became covered in foam
The greenish color of the water in the Dnipro River and the appearance of foam near the banks are linked to the rapid growth of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria.
According to experts, during the summer, water bodies may experience what is known as an “algal bloom”—the massive proliferation of microscopic organisms.
“The change in water color during the summer is associated with the active growth of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria—a phenomenon known as a ‘bloom.’ This is not a literal blooming of the body of water, but rather a massive proliferation of microscopic organisms, as a result of which the water changes its natural color. Depending on the species composition of the algae, the water can take on shades of green, blue-green, yellowish-brown, and other hues,” the Kyiv City State Administration explained.
One of the main causes of active algae growth is an excess of biogenic substances, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.
At the same time, the process is exacerbated by favorable weather and hydrological conditions. Prolonged heat, warming water, weak currents, and stagnant areas create a favorable environment for the rapid reproduction of algae.
Experts explain that the appearance of foam may also be linked to the growth and die-off of algae.
“The appearance of foam is also linked to processes that occur during the mass growth and die-off of algae. After a significant amount of biomass dies off in a body of water, active decomposition of organic matter begins. During this period, the composition of the surface layer of water changes, and natural organic compounds, along with decomposition products, can accumulate near the shores, causing an unpleasant odor,” the Kyiv City State Administration emphasized.
Under the influence of wind and waves, organic matter contributes to the formation of foam, which accumulates mainly in areas with slow currents, particularly along the shores.
At the same time, the mere presence of foam does not automatically indicate chemical contamination of the body of water.
“The appearance of foam alone is not sufficient grounds to claim that the body of water is contaminated with chemicals. To determine the specific causes, appropriate laboratory tests are required,” the experts emphasized.
According to the Kyiv City State Administration, similar processes are currently being observed in the Kyiv Reservoir, whose waters flow into the Dnipro River.
Officials in the capital noted that the Dnipro is a river of national importance, so the monitoring and management of its water resources are carried out within the framework of the national system.
“It is important to note that the Dnipro is a river of national importance, so the monitoring and management of its water resources are carried out within the framework of the national water resources management system. To coordinate further actions, strengthen monitoring, and assess the situation, the city has already reached out to the State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine and the Middle Dnipro Basin Water Resources Administration,” the Kyiv City State Administration noted.
Specialists from the Kyiv City State Administration’s Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation, in collaboration with the municipal enterprise “Pleso,” continue to monitor the condition of the capital’s water bodies.
To check for possible contamination, specialists from the “Pleso” municipal enterprise’s chemical testing laboratory collected water samples for detailed laboratory analysis.
The Kyiv City State Administration noted that if signs of pollution are detected, they will provide additional updates.
This was reported by the Kyiv City State Administration’s Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation in collaboration with the municipal enterprise “Pleso.”
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