Mysterious balls that forced the closure of several beaches in Sydney last week was found to contain saturated acids, E. coli and fecal bacteria, authorities said.
Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council said it had sent the debris to the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for further analysis.
Nine beaches, including popular spots Manly and Dee Why, were closed on January 14 after the marble-sized balls started washing up.
It comes months after thousands of black spots began appearing on the city’s shores in October, prompting authorities to close some of its most famous beaches for several days and order a massive cleanup.
The latest batch of balls has been cleared from harbor beaches this week, the Northern Beaches Council said in a statement on Tuesday.
They urged anyone who spots the balls not to touch them and to contact the authorities.
In addition to acids and bacteria, the balls also contained volcanic pumice stone.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said she hoped the EPA’s analysis would “identify the source so they can prevent this from happening on other beaches”.
“We continue to conduct regular inspections of our beaches and encourage the community to report any sightings,” she said.
The the first batch of debris in October they were mistakenly called “tar balls” at first, but were later discovered to contain everything from cooking oil molecules and soap residue to blood pressure medications, pesticides, hair, methamphetamine, and veterinary drugs.
Scientists said they resembled patches of fat, oil and grease – often called “fatbergs” – that commonly form in sewage systems.
But Sydney Water has reported that its water treatment plans are operating as normal and there are no known problems with the city’s waste systems.
