Exercise turns water green near Vilnius footbridge

Residents may see green water flowing near a pedestrian bridge between Žvėrynas and Vingis Park in Vilnius on Tuesday as part of the Vyčio skliautas exercise, LRT reports. The water is not pollution, but district heating water that is safe for people and the environment.

The green water in the Neris is part of the planned exercise scenario, so residents do not need to report it to emergency services, Vilnius municipality said.

The water is coloured with fluorescein, an environmentally friendly substance. The dye powder is orange, but turns the water green when it reacts with water. The coloured district heating water disperses quickly and does not harm nature.

The dye is also used by event organisers. For St Patrick’s Day, the water in the Vilnelė near Užupis Bridge is coloured green in the same way.