Mysterious foam erupts from Cambridge, Ont. roadway

The City of Cambridge is investigating after a mysterious foam erupted from the pavement at a major intersection twice in the past 24 hours.

It first happened Thursday evening, then again Friday around noon, soaking the roads at Fountain Street and King Street.

A video posted to social media at 12:50 p.m. on Friday shows a white substance shooting up from the asphalt. In another video posted seven minutes later, vehicles are seen driving through the frothy substance.

Patricia Thomas, who shot the video, said when she got close enough she could smell the soap.

“It was shooting up out of the ground and it was almost like a geyser you could see,” Thomas told CTV. “And then you realize it was like a soapy substance and the foam.”

The City of Cambridge said the foam was generated in the sanitary sewer system before coming out of a couple maintenance holes at the intersection.

Mike Parsons, director of environmental services for Cambridge said city and regional staff are investigating.

“At this point in time we are unsure of what that source is, but we suspect it is a detergent from possibly an industrial customer upstream."

The city said it was likely a batch dump of a substance that went into the sewer, but added that the city’s drinking water is safe and unaffected by the incidents.

Staff will continue to monitor the situation in case the mysterious foam returns.