MASSILLON – The Tuscarawas River is running red in the southern sector of the city.
But there’s no cause for alarm, according to officials.
A nontoxic, red dye was released into the river by a local business starting around 7:30 p.m. June 1 and flowed into the city’s wastewater treatment plant for processing, which has turned the water to a reddish tone downstream, according to city Engineer Alex Pitts.
“The red dye was discharged into the wastewater system, turning some of our tanks red inside the facility,” said Pitts, noting that the dye stopped flowing into the plant, 100 Big Indian Drive SW, around midnight.
Pitts said the liquid is a food-grade, non-toxic dye that is not harmful to plants or animals. The engineering office is monitoring and investigating the matter.
Pitts was not certain when the red coloration would start to disappear from the Tuscarawas River.
The incident at the plant has been checked out by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and local HAZMAT officials, Massillon Health Commissioner Terri Argent said.
The mayor’s office issued a statement about the red river water around 1:30 p.m. on its Facebook page.
“Red dye is now being filtered through our wastewater treatment plant under the guidance and direction of the EPA,” the message states. “If you observe discoloration in or near the river, it is a result of the discharge.”
The business responsible for the incident could be fined down the road, and may be required to reimburse the city for any repairs to water tanks or the wastewater system, Pitts said.
Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon alerting residents to red food dye in Tuscarawas River
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
