Part of Sydney Harbor has turned blood red to the surprise of residents and visitors, with a town hall offering the likely explanation.
Red water was seen on the harbor shore at Milson Park in Kirribilli, adjacent to the Sydney Harbor Bridge on Sydney’s lower north shore, on Monday afternoon.
Curious visitors to the popular harborside park traced the stream of red water to a stormwater drain.
A North Sydney City Council spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the likely cause of the color change is plumbers’ dye.
“The council is aware of red water flowing into the harbor from Milson Park, and officers have investigated but have been unable to find the source,” he said.
“We have reported this to the EPA (the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority).”
The substance, also known as fluorescein, is non-toxic and also odorless.
Plumber’s dye is used to locate the precise point of leaks in plumbing, pipes and drains.
Bright red water was seen flowing onto parts of the harbor beach at Milson Park in Kirribilli on Monday afternoon.
It is recommended that the use of the substance be kept to a minimum, to avoid problems like the one on Monday when it flows into natural waterways.
A NSW EPA spokesperson confirmed the council alerted the agency to the presence of the dye in the drain.
The latest incident comes just months after the water in the bay near Hipwood Street turned fluorescent green on September 25.
The mysterious green substance was seen coming out of a stormwater drain.
Authorities determined that was also caused by plumbing dye.
No hazards were identified to marine life or surrounding properties.