LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet is keeping a close eye on the 23-mile long plume of bourbon that is making its way down the Kentucky River after the fire at the Jim Beam warehouse in Woodford County. It’s expected to reach the Ohio River early Monday morning.
In the meantime, wildlife officials are using a process called aeration to keep as many fish alive as possible. Let’s unpack what it is, and why it may help lessen the wildlife impact of this bourbon leak.
Humans need oxygen to live. I’m sure that’s not exactly groundbreaking information for you. But, did you know that fish need oxygen to live too? Yes, they live in the water, but just like your lungs take oxygen out of the air, their gills take dissolved oxygen out of the water.
Here’s another thing that uses oxygen: many strains of bacteria. And that’s where we start to run into problems. See, the bourbon runoff from the Jim Beam fire has mixed with the water in the Kentucky River, and bacteria have started to feed on it. It uses up oxygen in the process, leaving very little in the water for the fish. THAT’S what’s killing them.
Here’s where aeration comes in. Aeration is essentially the process of stirring up the water, which mixes air into it at the surface. This replenishes the oxygen levels in the water. It’s the exact same thing that you see happening in fish tanks with air pumps.
More added oxygen to the water will hopefully mean fewer dead fish. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is expected to release an updated fish kill count soon.
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