THE RIVER — The annual dyeing of the Chicago River is officially underway, with green dye turning the murky water a bright green.
It’s the 64rd year the local plumbers union turned the river green— an effect that lasts for several days.
Thousands of people flocked Downtown Saturday morning to check out the process, lining the river from Columbus Drives far to end of the main branch.
The river dyeing kicked off at 9:52 a.m. Saturday, with Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 members dumping their proprietary blend of dyes into the river between Columbus Drive and Orleans Street.
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The plumbers local has been behind the tradition since 1962. The effect became a symbol of the city that’s been well documented in tv shows, movies and your social media feeds for the next few days.
The idea was spawned by Stephen Bailey, who was the union’s business manager in the early ’60s and thought the dye — used to trace leaks in buildings — would be a nice way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Although the exact concoction remains a closely guarded secret, it is vegetable-based. Dyeing the river only requires about 40 pounds of powdered dye, which is spread from motorboats and shot into the river by hoses aboard Architecture Tours boats. Other boats follow behind to stir the pot and spread the dye.
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