Skip to content

River turns orange due to iron deposits

The Dark Side Of The Moor Water in the River Calder at Todmorden which is heavily discoloured making it appear to be orangeThe Dark Side Of The Moor
Water escaping from old mines has discoloured a stretch of the River Calder, the Environment Agency said

A river has been turned orange after iron deposits were washed into it from a disused mine.

The Environment Agency (EA) said officers were investigating what had discoloured the River Calder, at Todmorden, on Thursday.

However, the EA said on X it was believed iron deposits had been carried into the river by water from an abandoned mine.

It said it did not expect any "significant or long-term water quality issues" following the incident.

The Dark Side Of The Moor Water in the River Calder at Todmorden which is heavily discoloured making it appear to be orangeThe Dark Side Of The Moor
The river has changed colour following heavy rainfall on previous occasions

A number of pictures and videos of the orange river have been published on social media.

The Calder Rivers Trust said it was aware of the incident which had been reported to the Environment Agency.

It is not the first time the Calder has changed colour with similar incidents reported in 2022 and 2014.

The river is expected to regain its normal appearance within a few days.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.

Related internet links