Walkers in the countryside of Vessem will not have noticed that something strange has happened to the Hazenloop stream. The water is colored orange, with a white edge on the side. According to De Dommel Water Board, we don’t have to worry about it. It seems to have arisen naturally.
A hiker discovered the phenomenon during a walk and reported it to the water board. There is a white rash on the sides of the water. The water itself has an orange and brown glow.
De Dommel Water Board thinks that the colors are formed by a natural process. This was caused by the high groundwater level that caused the prolonged rainfall. The soil around the Hazenloop naturally contains sulfur bacteria, making the groundwater rich in sulphate. Due to the high groundwater levels, sulphate-rich water flows straight from the bottom into the stream. The sulfur bacteria in the soil react strongly to this, causing the white color on the sides of the water.
According to the water board, the orange color is probably due to iron or humic acids in the groundwater. To ensure that the color is not caused by a chemical problem, samples of the water will be taken on Tuesday.