Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, July 22, 2014
(NEW ALBANY) - Some residents saw an unusual site Thursday - blue ink in a creek off Slate Run Road in New Albany.
The New Albany Mayor's Office says an employee with Discount Labels Printing Company was the person responsible.
Neighbors say he was rinsing out a blue ink barrel, and didn't intentionally turn the water blue.
We're told ink flowed into the drain in front of his home, sending it to a 450 foot section of the creek's tributary.
After being alerted, multiple agencies responded to the creek.
Crews spent part of Thursday rescuing fish, frogs, and minnows as they were pumping the creek dry.
"Strained the fish out of the vac truck's hose and put them over in the creek upstream," says Dave Daugherty with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
We're told the ink was non-toxic, so officials don't believe the blue water is a severe health risk.
Tests are being conducted to confirm that.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management believe the amount of ink that actually went into the water was small.
"It's not a real big amount. Ink that's water-based tend to be mixed with a whole lot of water, so a little bit goes a long, long way," says Dave Daugherty.
City officials say the Discount Labels Printing Company would most likely have to pay for the cleanup costs.
Officials will be back at the creek on Friday,where they will determine if more needs to be done.
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