“I was walking my dog ​​and the color was surprising”: the water of the Lez mysteriously turns bright red north of Montpellier

The color observed this Wednesday, May 29 by Sophie was indeed red. Free Midday

A local resident was surprised to discover in a small undergrowth near the nautical base at Agropolis, north of Montpellier, an unusual coloring of an arm of the watercourse.

"It was reported to me that there was a discharge which was coloring the water neon blue, but I didn&rsquo ;found bright red."Sophie, who is used to walking her dog on the banks of the Lez at the Lavalette Agropolis nautical base, decided to approach the watercourse, an arm of the Lez, this Wednesday May 29 and was surprised by its coloring.

"For some time my dog ​​has been suffering from hives after our walks in that area. She scratches until she gets the hairs off. At first I thought it was insects, but now I'm worried."

Who to alert when we notice pollution ?

When we notice potential pollution, it is important to report it to notify the competent authorities.

It is therefore necessary to report the problem to the mayor of the municipality who will be able to note the possible pollution and take an action. municipal protection if there is a risk for the population.

Very bright coloring

Given the very bright color of the water, there is a good chance that it is a harmless dye. "In these cases there are two possibilities, explains René Revol, vice-president of the Metropolis, delegated to the management of the’ water. The first is that it is a voluntary coloring which aims to follow the evolution of water, the second is an illegal discharge and that's why we need to check."

Afterwards it may also be that there were little jokers who wanted to have fun.

No incidents noted

Agents from the OFB, the French Biodiversity Office, were dispatched to the site after being warned – unfortunately 24 hours after the observation, this Thursday May 30. They went to the site but did not observe anything strange. They even questioned fishermen who didn't see anything either.

The latter specified that apart from "a higher flow than normal, no anomaly was detected", indicates the prefecture of Hérault.