The EPA accidentally dumped 3 million gallons of wastewater into a river and turned it orange

The federal agency tasked with protecting our environment said it accidentally contaminated a river with so much wastewater last week that it's now bright orange. An EPA safety team released three million gallons of wastewater into Las Animas River in Colorado, NPR reports. Their original estimate, after waiting a day to report the issue, was a mere one million gallons.

The EPA was digging a dam at a mine to install a drain pipe, and in the process, accidentally dumped problematic concentrations of zinc, iron, and contaminants into a runoff channel near a creek.

Tempted as you may be to go for a nice swim, the EPA is asking everyone to please not go near the orange water.

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