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UPDATE: Mystery of bright green water solved

The mystery of Rainbow Creek has been solved. The little-known waterway close to Confederation Park turned an unusual colour on March 22, as noted by Heights resident Cindy Oliver.
Rainbow Creek
A NOW reader snapped this photo of Rainbow Creek, where the water was running bright green recently. The city says it was a harmless dye test.

The mystery of Rainbow Creek has been solved.

The little-known waterway close to Confederation Park turned an unusual colour on March 22, as noted by Heights resident Cindy Oliver.

“It wasn’t a natural colour; it was bright fluorescent green,” Oliver told the NOW.

Oliver reported the odd hue to the city, and on Tuesday, environmental services officer Chris Ensing emailed the NOW saying it was a harmless product.

“Staff found out that it was a dye test that was done in the area. Typically it's an environmentally friendly product that is used to confirm drainage pathways - unfortunately it looks very much like antifreeze which would be toxic to fish,” Ensing said.

To report a spill, call 604-294-7460 immediately, and city environmental services officers can investigate.

Rainbow Creek runs through the park to the Burrard Inlet, and it was named after all the rainbow trout that used to spawn there.