It’s the height of summer down-under in Sydney, a time when tourists and locals are usually flocking to the city’s famous beaches. But nine beaches were shut to the public this week – including well-known Manly – after more ball-shaped debris washed ashore.
Similar sticky round globules have been found on many of the city’s beaches over the past six months, forcing some of them to close temporarily. The New South Wales environment minister, Penny Sharpe, has said the balls remain a “genuine mystery”.
But there’s a growing number of experts and observers who believe Sydney’s unusual sewerage system is to blame. The water policy expert Prof Stuart Khan says:
“We know it’s a sewage source. The combination of different chemical contaminants, human hair, is a very strong indicator that sewage is ultimately the source.”
