Don’t worry as rivers turn red – Water Resources Authority

In an attempt to understand the flow patterns of four different rivers in St Ann and Clarendon, the Water Resources Authority (WRA) will be conducting a dye trace on Monday, October 30, turning various rivers in the parishes red, green, orange and yellow for up to 24 hours.

The Blue River Sink, located in Mason River; the Bottom River Sink, located in Douglas Castle; the McDowell Sink, located in Fort George; and the Walton Sink, located in Moneague, along the border of St Ann and Clarendon, will be injected with dye between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Chief Hydrologist at the Water Resources Authority, Dr Nia Ramsoogoon, told THE STAR that the public should not be concerned, because the dye is non-toxic and will become diluted in natural waters.

"I know when the public see that, I know it can get a little scary. But, again, I want to reiterate, that dye is non-hazardous and you can think about it simply as them dye staining the water," Ramsoogoon said. Assistant Chief Hydrologist Desmond Wellington added that the dye is the same one used in cancer patients to detect cancerous cells. However, Ramsoogoon is warning the public not to use these water sources to wash, cook or clean before the 24-hour period is up, because the dye stains are impossible to be removed.

She added that the hydrologist team's intent is to ensure that the dye does not interact with fish and other animals, but it may do so, and even affect the colour of the animals. However, this is unlikely and the organisation has never had such reports.

The WRA is also asking citizens not to remove the charcoal receptors, which look little black stones in black mesh pouches. As the dyed water passes through the receptors, the dye will stick to the charcoal, removing trace amounts of the dye from the rivers as well, as allow the scientists to understand the flow patterns.

The receptors will be placed at 17 locations and collected over a three- to six-month period to be sent to a laboratory for analysis at the University of Western Kentucky in the United States. The locations include Pear Tree Bottom River, Laughlands Great River, Milford Spring, Turtle River, Cave River, White River at Exchange, Labyrinth Spring, Moneague Lake, and Middlesex River.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the path and speed of water beneath the earth, as well as to help the WRA to better allocate and protect freshwater resources in the White River sub-catchment.

"Essentially, what we want to map out is the flow path for surface water, so when it rains in the upper catchment, where does that surface water end up? Does it become ground water? How much of it becomes water, and where does that water flow?" Ramsoogoon said.

By measuring the concentration of the dye, scientists will be able to predict the speed of the groundwater flow, the travel time of the dye, as well as the direction of the flow in the underground system.

"The type of information the WRA will gather from this study will help us protect resources. One, it's very important in terms of bauxite mining, et cetera, that's happening in that Cockpit Country space right now," Ramsoogoon added.

She added that this study will allow the organisation to decipher if these rivers have been highly contaminated or not.