In the middle of a pandemic, the last thing we need is another sign of the apocalypse.
Luckily, that wasn’t what unfolded in Jasper, Indiana, Monday evening.
A resident strolling along the city’s Riverwalk saw something strange when they peered over one of the trail's many wooden bridges: the Patoka River had turned blood red.
Ominously winding through brush and broken twigs, the water looked like a deleted scene from "The Shining."
Photos of the red river soon landed on Facebook, and a story by the radio station WITZ sparked a bevy of bizarre theories.
Read more: The History Channel will cover an infamous Tri-State UFO encounter
Why is the Patoka River red?
Some blamed algae growths. Others, though, went biblical, quoting Revelations 16:3: “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.”
But according to Chad Mundy, stormwater coordinator for the City of Jasper, the answer is a lot more mundane.
After a thorough investigation that involved him traipsing through the woods to find the source of the stain, he confirmed that an employee from Meyer Distributing had dumped red marker dye to track a leak in their building. The dye then accidentally swarmed into the river.
Is the water safe?
Munday said the employee used a brand called Lazer. According to Sanco Industries, the makers of Lazer, the product is non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
That was a concern for Mundy, who said Jasper has seen fish kills in the past. And when he first spotted a dye stain along an inlet Monday evening, he feared the worst.
But when he checked the water Monday night and Tuesday morning, he could see plenty of fish going about their business.
“You don’t know until you know,” he said. “That’s why we backtracked to find the official source.”
He reported the incident to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which called off a meeting with city officials after Mundy confirmed the source of the stain.
Forced to take a leisurely walk on a 70-degree day, I took a look at the water Tuesday morning. Much of the red dye had dissipated, leaving only a faint sheen shimmering under the surface.
By Wednesday, it’ll likely be gone.
More: Radar mystery may have been solved (again) | Webb
Contact columnist Jon Webb at jon.webb@courierpress.com.
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The Link LonkAugust 05, 2020 at 02:00AM
https://www.courierpress.com/story/opinion/columnists/jon-webb/2020/08/04/southern-indiana-river-turned-red-wasnt-apocalypse/3291078001/
The Patoka River in Jasper turned blood red. Don't worry – it's not the apocalypse - Courier & Press
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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