NJ Creek Turns Red After Improper Food Coloring Dump: Officials

NEW JERSEY - A portion of a South Jersey creek was found red on Tuesday after food dye was improperly dumped into it, officials said.

Following an investigation from the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority into the “strange, bright red color” affecting the Pennsauken Creek Tuesday morning, it was found that a local beverage manufacturer had improperly dumped red food dye into the wastewater system, EMUA said in a statement.

Local officials did not immediately identify the manufacturer associated with the dye dump.

The dye contamination is confined to the Woodstream treatment plant and the southernmost branch of the Pennsauken Creek; according to OSHA standards, the identified substance is not hazardous, EMUA added.

The water authority, which maintains and operates the publicly owned water and wastewater infrastructure in the area, has already notified the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for further action. It was not immediately clear what actions will be taken or how long the actions will take to complete.

“The Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority would like to reassure the residents living around the Woodstream Waste Water Treatment Plant located on Brandywine Drive in the Woodstream section of Evesham Township, that there is currently no risk to public health as a result of this incident,” the EMUA said.