Mysterious Green Color in Sydney Harbor Deemed Harmless Dye
A section of Sydney Harbor in Australia briefly turned bright green due to a common dye. This dye, commonly used by plumbers, flowed from a storm drain, creating a puzzling sight.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales responded swiftly to the incident at Kirribilli, a Sydney suburb, after the water changed color on Wednesday. Their social media update confirmed that the spill was non-toxic.
Video footage from the location showed the harbor reminiscent of the Chicago River during its annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations when it is dyed green. However, Sydney's green water has a different source.
Officials indicated that the dye's origin is likely fluorescein, a substance frequently utilized by plumbers to detect leaks. Superintendent Adam Dewberry spoke to 9News, stating, "We can't say for sure, but that's what we think it is. It's a common product that dyes water quite effectively."
Dewberry added that there seemed to be no adverse effects on local fish and wildlife from the colored water. Witnesses observed green liquid in a storm drain at Anderson Park prior to the color change in the harbor. Despite these sightings, firefighters are continuing to investigate the chemical's exact origin.