Waterloo Region – On September 9, the Region of Waterloo is conducting a dye test in the Nith River in Wellesley to understand where and how the water mixes in the river, which helps for planning purposes.

A safe and environmentally friendly pink dye will be added into the Nith River at the Wellesley Wastewater Treatment Plan (WWTP) from around 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The river will have a pink hue after the dye is added, with the greatest visibility near the WWTP along Gerber Road and will decrease as it moves downstream. These dye tests are a common way to monitor the water travel time downstream and how effluent – the treated water coming out of the WWTP – is dispersed in the river. The dye dilutes quickly as it moves downstream, doesn’t reduce dissolved oxygen levels in the river, and is safe for people, pets, livestock, aquatic life, and other wildlife. 

This dye test will help inform the future planning for the Wellesley WWTP proposed in the draft Wellesley Water and Wastewater Master Plan. Additional background information is available at https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/wellesley-water-and-wastewater-master-plan.

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