Sept. 26 (UPI) — Part of Sydney Harbour in Australia temporarily turned bright green when a commonly used plumbing dye leaked down a storm drain.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales said investigators were called to the bay in Kirribilli, a Sydney suburb, after the water changed colour on Wednesday.
“Our team conducted a rapid investigation and confirmed the spill was non-toxic,” Fire and Rescue NSW said on social media.
A video of the scene shows the water similar to the The Chicago River as it turns green during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Officials said Thursday that the dye in Sydney Harbour had a less festive origin: it is believed to be a dye called fluorescein, which plumbers often use to detect leaks.
“We can’t say for sure, but we believe it is,” said Superintendent Adam Dewberry told 9News“It is a widely used product for painting water and it is very effective.”
According to Dewberry, the green water does not appear to have any adverse effects on fish and other local wildlife.
Witnesses reported seeing a green liquid in a sewer in Anderson Park the day before the harbor turned discolored, but the fire department said the source of the chemical was still under investigation.
