Residents of a Canadian town were left baffled after their water supply turned flourescent pink.
Authorities apologised after chemicals used in a local reservoir caused the supply to change colour in Onoway, Alberta.
According to the BBC, locals complained to their town office who told them the colouring was a side-effect of the common water-treatment chemical, potassium permanganate.
The chemical - used to remove hydrogen sulphide from water – had got into the local reservoir after a valve malfunctioned.
The town office said that, although the colour of the water was “alarming”, residents were not at risk.
"While it is alarming to see pink water coming from your taps,” a statement said. “Potassium permanganate is used in normal treatment processes to help remove iron and manganese and residents were never at risk."
The World Health Organisation warned that the chemical can irritate skin but there were no reports of such reactions.
