Leak at UAMS Turns Water Red
By: Marci Manley
Updated: December 7, 2012
According to the City of Little Rock, the water in Plateau Ditch in the vicinity of UAMS (Pine/Cedar and Markham intersection) is red due to a leak.
Officials say the color is caused by a dye added to the UAMS hot water circulation system, but is not toxic or harmful.
The City says UAMS is trying to find the water leak, and that under usual operations, the UAMS water circulation system does not connect into the City of Little Rock's storm water system.
City officials say according to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, this red dye does not constitute a safety or health hazard.
Additional information:
Seeing the water running red near 7th street, it was easy to feel a bit unnerved.
But the Department of Environmental Quality and Little Rock Public Works, shown in these pictures taken by Forbidden Hillcrest, putting any fears to rest by testing the waters Friday afternoon.
The runoff is the result of a closed water system leak at UAMS, according to city workers.
The dye is always present in the water system there, according to facilities maintenance, and it works to send a "red flag" out to authorities when a leak develops.
The dye is basically food coloring -- not hazardous to your health -- though skin and eye contact can cause irritation.
The school is working to find the leak in the system -- which is fed by the same water that comes from your tap in the kitchen.








