Organisers of the Taipei leg of the world-renowned Color RunTM event are currently in the hot seat for allegedly dumping into the city's Dajia Riverside Park the remnants of the coloured powder it had doused on the marathon runners on Saturday.

The Color RunTM is a unique fun run marathon that lasts for only five kilometres but there is no declared winner. Aiming to "celebrate healthiness, happiness and individuality," it is an un-timed race where participants get doused in different colours from head to toe at each kilometer.

However, organisers of the Taipei leg could be facing stiff fines. The Taipei Times reported on Sunday that the city's Environmental Protection Bureau had received reports that workers of the Color RunTM Taipei leg were alleged to have been seen sweeping the colored powders into the river after the event.

The streets may already have been swept clean by Sunday morning but there is no denying that it had been possibly dumped into the river. The river waters sported a pinkish-purple colour.

Video Source: Youtube/ 鄉民新聞

Organisers defended staff workers who had been ordered to use vacuum cleaners to suck up the powders on the ground after the event. They said the powders that have been blown into the river was an unavoidable circumstance because one of the sections of the race was close to the river.

They likewise stressed the powders used during all Color RunTM marathons only contain corn flour dyed with food colouring. They do not cause pollution, they maintained.

Taipei City's Environmental Protection Bureau said it will continue its investigation into the matter.

Bureau inspectors said the Color RunTM Taipei leg would be fined between NT$30,000 (AU$1,092.04) and NT$300,000 (AU$10,920.01) for violating the Water Pollution Control Act.

Video Source: Youtube/ 提芬 史

The Color Run is an event that is owned and operated by The Color Run LLC, a for-profit company. It was founded in 2012. It has been to places in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.