Turning the Chicago River Green: Costing Methods

Since 1962, members of the Plumbers Local have been dyeing the Chicago River green in honor of St. Patricks Day. Similar river dyeing occurs in Tampa, Austin, and elsewhere.

In 1961, the mayor of Chicago wanted to find out where raw sewage was being dumped into the Chicago River. He directed that a special green dye (fluorescein) would be added to the river to help highlight where the sewage was being dumped.

Upon seeing the Chicago River streaked green for this sewage-detection project, people got the idea that the river could be dyed green for St. Patricks Day. In 1962, members of the Plumbers Local in Chicago dumped 100 pounds of this leak detection dye into the river for St. Patricks Day. It turned the river green for a week. In later years, less dye was used so that the river would be green for less than one day.

Environmentalists then warned that the use of fluorescein might be damaging the rivers eco-system. A switch was then made to a powered, vegetable dye in 1966.

Although parade organizers will not disclose the exact ingredients of the dye used, it is probably similar to the Bright Dyes Water Tracer Dye produced by Kingscote Chemicals of Ohio. This Water Tracer Dye is an orange powder that turns bright green when it is put into the river. It is EPA-approved for uses related to public waterways. (The City of Tampa uses use this Bright Eyes dye for its river dyeing.)

When Kingscote produces this dye, it likely performs steps similar to the following:

• Mix together several chemicals in powder form;

• Add a liquid chemical to the mix;

• Heat and stir the mixture;

• Cool the mixture;

• Dry and grind the cooled mixture into a power form.

The dye powder is made in large batches and is sold in 1 lb., 10 lbs, and 25 lb. containers. There are a variety of uses for the dry powder. In addition to dyeing rivers green, the dye powder is used for flow studies, leak detection, power plant piping, and drain connections.

Initial Question:

Please address the question(s) below. In your post, please support your response (why do you think so?)

1. Would Kingscote Chemicals be likely to use job costing or process costing when it accounts for the manufacture of its powder Bright Dyes products? Explain.

2. What circumstances would have to change for Kingscote Chemicals to use the other costing method?