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Vancouver Off-Topic / Current EventsThe off-topic forum for Vancouver, funnies, non-auto centered discussions, WORK SAFE. While the rules are more relaxed here, there are still rules. Please refer to sticky thread in this forum.
A prank is probably responsible for turning water in the Goldstream River fluorescent green late Wednesday afternoon.
Horrified nature-lovers watched as water flowing past the Goldstream Park picnic area mysteriously changed colour.
While onlookers worried about the effect on fish and wildlife, water samples were collected by the Langford Fire Department and handed to teams from the provincial Environment Ministry.
“Ministry staff believe the cause of the colouring is a water-tracing dye used in the testing of sanitary water systems,” said Environment Ministry spokesman Dan Gilmore Wednesday evening.
Two samples will be reviewed Thursday and the ministry considers the incidents to be vandalism, he said.
If the green colouring is confirmed to be water-testing dye, it is not known to be harmful to fish and wildlife.
The fluorescent green, which some park visitors said was so bright it hurt the eyes, apparently started at least 500 metres on the Victoria side of the park entrance.
The river, known for its chum salmon runs, eagles and other wildlife, returned to its usual colour within an hour, but green colouring then flowed into the environmentally-sensitive estuary.
Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett said a fountain beside Veterans Memorial Parkway in Langford also ran green Wednesday morning.
“I don’t know if the two are related,” he said.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said he is aware of the dye used to test for sewage or water leaks and only a small amount is needed to change the colour of a river or lake.
“It’s a non-polluting chemical that’s really bright green. It’s probably some idiots with a bit of knowledge,” he said.
Investigators are taking the matter seriously because of the sensitive ecosystem around the river, Beckett said.
“If it is a prank I hope the ministry takes appropriate action against anyone who would do something so foolish,” he said.
Park naturalist Bre Spathamsaid she was first alerted by phone calls from drivers.
The colour was alarming, she said.
“It looked as if someone had dumped a package of bright green Kool-Aid in the river,” she said.
Jane London was in the park with her five-year-old son Miles when the colour changed.
“It looked a little like antifreeze, but there was way too much. The whole river was flowing green from the bridge right down as far as we could see,” she said.
“There was no odour. It was like some sort of chemical reaction. My son was just astounded, but we didn’t stick around for too long,” London said.
Shayne Kaye and Tyson Elder were taking wildlife photographs when the river turned green.
“It was bizarre and surreal. You’re in a wilderness area and the water turns bright, fluorescent green. It was nothing you would see in nature,” Elder said.
Kaye and Elder traced the pools of green up-river and figured the colour could have been dumped into a storm drain.
“It was a little on the weird side, but it didn’t look as if it was leaving any residue,” Kaye said.
VICTORIA — The chemical that turned Goldstream River green has been confirmed as fluorescein.
Water samples taken Wednesday from the river and from a green-spouting fountain in Veterans Memorial Park were sent to Environment Canada’s Pacific Environmental Science Centre in North Vancouver for assessment, said Dan Gilmore, provincial environment ministry spokesman.
“Test results received this morning confirm the substance causing the green colour in the river and the fountain was fluorescein,” Gilmore said.
“Fluorescein is a synthetic organic compound soluble in water and alcohol. It is widely used as a fluorescent tracer for many applications. The product itself and its products of degradation are not toxic.”
Based on the flow rate of the river, the probable concentration of fluorescein and lab results, Environment Ministry staff do not believe that fish or fish habitat were harmed during this incident, Gilmore said.
The chemical is usually used to trace leaks from septic tanks and water systems and can be bought online.
So its not toxic but can make you sick? Wouldn't that make animals sick too? Of course I know animals don't have the same anatomy as humans but still may be a concern. What if a deer drinks water from the river and becomes nauseous..............i wouldnt want a puking deer in my backyard.......
Originally posted by Marco911 Must be funny when he sees his psychiatrist for treatment of his delusions of grandeur.
Hyde: "See my black Ferrari parked in the handicapped spot outside your office"
Doctor: "Where? All I see is a Yaris."
Hyde: "It's a Ferrari dammit! LoL! Yaris!?"
Doctor: " I'd appreciate if you didn't park in the handicap spots."
Hyde: "LOL! The ticket is only like $500 bucks. In fact, my dad's factory makes the handicapped street signs. If you look closely at vegetable in the wheelchair, it's really a picture of me when I was born."
Doctor: "Here, come a little closer you won't feel this at all."<Injects 20cc of Haloperidol>
Hyde: "I feel woozy...hey, what did you do to my Ferrari? That's a real piece of shit parked in my spot."
Doctor: "Welcome to reality."
now that it has been deemed not harmful,
“If it is a prank I hope the ministry takes appropriate action against anyone who would do something so foolish,”
what is the appropriate action? if it is even punsihable......
with the media it has receieved, i can see more pranks like this happening. lol
tilt your head back and using your hand pretend to shake a salt shaker in your mouth... you will notice that it will actually taste like salt in your mouth..
We use this dye in the boilers at my workplace. As stated, it's used to find leaks in the water system.
The stuff is super potent, you use it by the milliliter.
To give you an idea, one teaspoon is more than enough to use on a whole high school's water system.
It's not harmful, it's basically like super intense food colouring..
It depends how much they put in.. but I'm pretty sure someone in that prankster group knows his shit and kept it in acceptable range..
__________________ Studies show 100% of people die.. Might as well have some fun.
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