Mysterious Debris on Sydney Beaches Found to Contain Dangerous Bacteria

Authorities confirm that hazardous balls washing up in Sydney's Northern Beaches contained E. coli and other harmful materials, leading to multiple beach closures.

The puzzling marble-sized balls that prompted the closure of several beaches in Sydney last week have been confirmed to carry saturated fatty acids, E. coli, and faecal bacteria, according to local authorities. The Northern Beaches Council announced they sent samples of the debris to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for comprehensive testing.

On January 14, nine popular beaches, including Manly and Dee Why, were closed when the peculiar balls began appearing on the shores. This latest incident follows a previous scare in October, when thousands of black blobs forced authorities to shut down some of Sydney’s iconic beaches for several days, leading to an extensive clean-up operation.

This week's cleanup effort was carried out on harbor beaches, with the Northern Beaches council urging residents not to touch the balls if found and instead report their sightings to the authorities. The balls were also found to contain volcanic rock pumice alongside the bacteria and fatty acids.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins expressed hope that the EPA analysis would uncover the source of the pollution, as she emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents in the future. She stated, "We are continuing to conduct regular inspections of our beaches and encourage the community to report any sightings."

The initial discovery of debris in October, which was initially misidentified as "tar balls," was later proven to consist of a wide range of hazardous materials, including cooking oil, soap scum, blood pressure medication, pesticides, and more. Scientists noted that these substances bore a resemblance to "fatbergs," the problematic formations typically found in sewage systems. Meanwhile, Sydney Water has confirmed that its water treatment facilities are functioning normally, with no known issues within the city's waste management systems.