The Auxance River Turns

Green and Red for a Hydrogeological Study

The Auxance River has taken on unusual colors over the past few days. A bright fluorescent green or a vivid red has appeared in the water.

This operation, which poses no danger to local wildlife or vegetation, is part of an effort to understand how the groundwater table is replenished.

When the Auxance Changes Color for Science

The image is striking, but it poses absolutely no risk to the fauna and flora of the Auxance River. The water appears green in some places, red in others.
This is simply due to the use of tracers poured into the water at different points near Latillé, in the Vienne region. According to Mickaël Moreau, the hydrogeologist at CPGF Horizon overseeing the operation, the tracers are used to verify "the relationships between the surface environment, the river, and the underground environment."
It turns out that the Auxance appears to be losing water in certain areas.

The goal of the Vienne Water Syndicate, which is running the experiment, is to better understand how the groundwater table is recharged. In recent years, the syndicate has observed a decline in water quality at one of their catchment sites. "The aim is to better understand underground water flows," explains Lionel Sibileau, hydrogeologist for Eaux de Vienne. He adds, "This operation is intended to improve our knowledge so we can identify where this lower-quality water is coming from."