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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Norlab Tracer Dyes Safe?
Yes. Norlab Tracer Dyes are non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble and safe for the environment. Norlab Tracer Dyes have been used for decades & meet US EPA and DNR field testing standards. Use in accordance with recommended dosage.
How Much Norlab Tracer Dye Should I Use?

The amount of dye to use depends on each specific application & is affected by many variables such as the volume of water, volume of solids in the water, rate of flow, distance traveled, amount of sunlight or visible light, aid of instrumentation, user’s quality of vision, etc.

Therefore more or less dye than recommended, may be needed. The use of a UV Blacklight, flash light, fluorometer, spectrophotometer or mirror can assist in visual detection.

Approximate Dosage :
Liquid: 1 oz per 500 gallons tested
Powder: 1 lb per 16,000 gallons tested
Dye Strip: 1 strip per 500 gallons tested
Tracer Dye Bag: 1 water soluble bag per 1,500 gallons tested
Dye Donut: 1 dye donut per 8,000 gallons tested
Toilet Dye: 1 strip per toilet test

Please visit each product page for recommended dosage to visually detect dye with the naked eye (1ppm dye concentration.) Note: the recommended dosage can be multiplied by a factor of 10, if instrumentation is utilized (i.e. spectrophotometer.)

What Is The Best Norlab Tracer Dye Color To Use?

Fluorescent Yellow/Green is the most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color in the world because it is fluorescent, vivid, and easily detected in the darkest, hard-to-see environments. Fluorescent YellowGreen is ideal for murky brown water & can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark manholes.

Fluorescent Red is the second most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color because it is fluorescent, vivid and easily detected in the darkest, hard- to-see environments. Fluorescent Red is ideal for green tinted water (high algae content) and a great cross check contrast color to the Fluorescent Yellow/Green. It can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark manholes.

Fluorescent Orange is the third most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color because it is fluorescent, vivid and easily detected in the darkest hard-to-see environments. Fluorescent Orange is ideal for green tinted water (high algae content) and a great cross check color to Fluorescent Red. Fluorescent Orange can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark man holes.

High Intensity Blue & Vivid Violet are best used in high-light environments, clear water & best detected against lighter backgrounds.
High Intensity Blue & Vivid Violet are dark colors & aesthetic to see in open water ways.

Which Norlab Tracer Dye Product Should I Use?

Norlab Liquid Powder Tracing Dye is #1 because it is very versatile, concentrated & clean to handle, which eliminates the mess associated with dye testing. The liquid disperses immediately, providing fast, immediate & accurate results (unlike tablets which don’t disperse quickly, get flushed away risking inaccurate results!) Flip the spout, give the bottle a squeeze & you’re good to go. Great for all applications
(small, moderate & large volume.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 oz per 500 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Toilet Dye (patented) is a superior product for detecting toilet leaks when compared to tablets. Toilet Dye immediately releases the dye (unlike tablets) which reduces detection times. Toilet Dye is more concentrated (unlike tablets) providing a darker, easier-to-detect color. Toilet Dye is a flat medium (unlike tablets) therefore won’t crumble in the mail during promotional campaigns. Toilet Dye reduces odds of accidental ingestion (unlike tablets.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 strip per toilet test.

 

Norlab Dye Strip Tracer Dye (patented) is ideal for cold weather applications because they won’t freeze & indoor applications due to clean handling (nothing to spill). Each Dye Strip is individually packaged providing measured dosage. Dye Strip’s fast dispersion in water, result in less field time & ensures accurate results (unlike tablets which don’t disperse quickly, get flushed away risking inaccurate results!) Great for most applications (especially small & moderate volume.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 strip per 500 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Dye Powder is ideal for high volume dye usage because it is the most concentrated form of dye. Dry Powder provides immediate dispersibility for fast, accurate results. Dry Powder is messier to handle compared to Liquid, Strips & Tracer Bag, especially in high wind environments & indoor usage, however mixing the powder in 5 gallon pails of water prior to usage, can solve this issue. If large volumes of water/sewage are involved, Norlab Dry Powder Tracer Dye is a great choice.

Approximate Dosage: 1 lb per 16,000 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Concentrated Liquid is ideal for moderate to large volumes of water. Provides immediate dispersibility for fast, accurate results & clean handling. Packaged in 1 gallon, 5 gallon, 30 gallon, 55 gallon drums for ready-to-use applications.

Approximate Dosage: 1 gallon per 65,000 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Tracer Dye Bag is a clean alternative to small, moderate & large volumes of water. Each, water soluble bag contains Dry Powder Tracer Dye. Just throw & go, as the bag will immediately dissolve releasing the powder & ensuring accurate results & clean handling.

Approximate Dosage: 1 water soluble bag per 1,500 gallons tested.

 

 

Norlab Dye Donut provides slow dispersion for large volumes of water (i.e. large metro sewer lines.) Dye Donut is a solid medium comprised of water soluble wax & Dry Powder Tracer Dye. 100% biodegradable & water soluble providing 3-5 hour release of dye within high rate of flow environments.

Approximate Dosage: 1 dye donut per 8,000 gallons tested.

Can I Remove The Dye Color If I Want?
Bleach & chlorine will remove the dye color from the water or sewage (approximately 4:1 bleach to dye ratio). Additionally, sunlight exposure will remove the dye color over time (approximately 24-72 hrs), as well as adding more water to dilute the dye. The more sunlight, the more water, will result in faster dilution of dye color.
What Instrumentation Setting Should I Use?

Fluorescent Tracing Dye selectively absorbs visible light (typically green light within the color spectrum) & simultaneously remits the light back (at a longer wavelength, in all directions) as a reddish fluorescent light.

If utilizing a black light or fluorometer, these lights will emit at 360 nanometers. At this “excitation wavelength”, if the dyes are present then they will peak at the respective “emission wavelength” listed below.

Fluorescent YellowGreen
Absorbance Wavelength: 490nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 516nm

Fluorescent Red
Absorbance Wavelength: 556nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 577nm

Fluorescent Orange
Absorbance Wavelength: 516nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 530nm

What Are The Hazards If Someone Ingests The Dye?
The dye is non-toxic and will not adversely affect an individual’s health.
Drink plenty of water and do NOT induce vomiting. Seek medical attention if needed. Note: there might be a noticeable dye tint within an individual’s urine & perspiration for a short period of time.

Technical Data Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Norlab Tracer Dyes Safe?
Yes. Norlab Tracer Dyes are non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble and safe for the environment. Norlab Tracer Dyes have been used for decades & meet US EPA and DNR field testing standards. Use in accordance with recommended dosage.
How Much Norlab Tracer Dye Should I Use?

The amount of dye to use depends on each specific application & is affected by many variables such as the volume of water, volume of solids in the water, rate of flow, distance traveled, amount of sunlight or visible light, aid of instrumentation, user’s quality of vision, etc.

Therefore more or less dye than recommended, may be needed. The use of a UV Blacklight, flash light, fluorometer, spectrophotometer or mirror can assist in visual detection.

Approximate Dosage :
Liquid: 1 oz per 500 gallons tested
Powder: 1 lb per 16,000 gallons tested
Dye Strip: 1 strip per 500 gallons tested
Tracer Dye Bag: 1 water soluble bag per 1,500 gallons tested
Dye Donut: 1 dye donut per 8,000 gallons tested
Toilet Dye: 1 strip per toilet test

Please visit each product page for recommended dosage to visually detect dye with the naked eye (1ppm dye concentration.) Note: the recommended dosage can be multiplied by a factor of 10, if instrumentation is utilized (i.e. spectrophotometer.)

What Is The Best Norlab Tracer Dye Color To Use?

Fluorescent Yellow/Green is the most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color in the world because it is fluorescent, vivid, and easily detected in the darkest, hard-to-see environments. Fluorescent YellowGreen is ideal for murky brown water & can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark manholes.

Fluorescent Red is the second most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color because it is fluorescent, vivid and easily detected in the darkest, hard- to-see environments. Fluorescent Red is ideal for green tinted water (high algae content) and a great cross check contrast color to the Fluorescent Yellow/Green. It can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark manholes.

Fluorescent Orange is the third most popular Norlab Tracer Dye color because it is fluorescent, vivid and easily detected in the darkest hard-to-see environments. Fluorescent Orange is ideal for green tinted water (high algae content) and a great cross check color to Fluorescent Red. Fluorescent Orange can be easily detected visually or with the aid of flashlight, mirror, UV & fluorometric instrumentation, especially in dark man holes.

High Intensity Blue & Vivid Violet are best used in high-light environments, clear water & best detected against lighter backgrounds.
High Intensity Blue & Vivid Violet are dark colors & aesthetic to see in open water ways.

Which Norlab Tracer Dye Product Should I Use?

Norlab Liquid Powder Tracing Dye is #1 because it is very versatile, concentrated & clean to handle, which eliminates the mess associated with dye testing. The liquid disperses immediately, providing fast, immediate & accurate results (unlike tablets which don’t disperse quickly, get flushed away risking inaccurate results!) Flip the spout, give the bottle a squeeze & you’re good to go. Great for all applications
(small, moderate & large volume.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 oz per 500 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Toilet Dye (patented) is a superior product for detecting toilet leaks when compared to tablets. Toilet Dye immediately releases the dye (unlike tablets) which reduces detection times. Toilet Dye is more concentrated (unlike tablets) providing a darker, easier-to-detect color. Toilet Dye is a flat medium (unlike tablets) therefore won’t crumble in the mail during promotional campaigns. Toilet Dye reduces odds of accidental ingestion (unlike tablets.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 strip per toilet test.

 

Norlab Dye Strip Tracer Dye (patented) is ideal for cold weather applications because they won’t freeze & indoor applications due to clean handling (nothing to spill). Each Dye Strip is individually packaged providing measured dosage. Dye Strip’s fast dispersion in water, result in less field time & ensures accurate results (unlike tablets which don’t disperse quickly, get flushed away risking inaccurate results!) Great for most applications (especially small & moderate volume.)

Approximate Dosage: 1 strip per 500 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Dye Powder is ideal for high volume dye usage because it is the most concentrated form of dye. Dry Powder provides immediate dispersibility for fast, accurate results. Dry Powder is messier to handle compared to Liquid, Strips & Tracer Bag, especially in high wind environments & indoor usage, however mixing the powder in 5 gallon pails of water prior to usage, can solve this issue. If large volumes of water/sewage are involved, Norlab Dry Powder Tracer Dye is a great choice.

Approximate Dosage: 1 lb per 16,000 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Concentrated Liquid is ideal for moderate to large volumes of water. Provides immediate dispersibility for fast, accurate results & clean handling. Packaged in 1 gallon, 5 gallon, 30 gallon, 55 gallon drums for ready-to-use applications.

Approximate Dosage: 1 gallon per 65,000 gallons tested.

 

Norlab Tracer Dye Bag is a clean alternative to small, moderate & large volumes of water. Each, water soluble bag contains Dry Powder Tracer Dye. Just throw & go, as the bag will immediately dissolve releasing the powder & ensuring accurate results & clean handling.

Approximate Dosage: 1 water soluble bag per 1,500 gallons tested.

 

 

Norlab Dye Donut provides slow dispersion for large volumes of water (i.e. large metro sewer lines.) Dye Donut is a solid medium comprised of water soluble wax & Dry Powder Tracer Dye. 100% biodegradable & water soluble providing 3-5 hour release of dye within high rate of flow environments.

Approximate Dosage: 1 dye donut per 8,000 gallons tested.

Can I Remove The Dye Color If I Want?
Bleach & chlorine will remove the dye color from the water or sewage (approximately 4:1 bleach to dye ratio). Additionally, sunlight exposure will remove the dye color over time (approximately 24-72 hrs), as well as adding more water to dilute the dye. The more sunlight, the more water, will result in faster dilution of dye color.
What Instrumentation Setting Should I Use?

Fluorescent Tracing Dye selectively absorbs visible light (typically green light within the color spectrum) & simultaneously remits the light back (at a longer wavelength, in all directions) as a reddish fluorescent light.

If utilizing a black light or fluorometer, these lights will emit at 360 nanometers. At this “excitation wavelength”, if the dyes are present then they will peak at the respective “emission wavelength” listed below.

Fluorescent YellowGreen
Absorbance Wavelength: 490nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 516nm

Fluorescent Red
Absorbance Wavelength: 556nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 577nm

Fluorescent Orange
Absorbance Wavelength: 516nm
Excitation Wavelength: 360nm
Emission Wavelength: 530nm

What Are The Hazards If Someone Ingests The Dye?
The dye is non-toxic and will not adversely affect an individual’s health.
Drink plenty of water and do NOT induce vomiting. Seek medical attention if needed. Note: there might be a noticeable dye tint within an individual’s urine & perspiration for a short period of time.

Technical Data Sheets