Sydney residents have been left baffled after a mysterious substance turned parts of the harbour a fluorescent green.
Residents in Kirribilli, near Milsons Park, were stunned when they saw the water in the bay along Hipwood Street had turned bright green at around 3pm on Wednesday.
Concerned neighbors immediately called the fire department to investigate the unusual sighting.
Firefighters said they were alerted to a “large spill of fluorescent green material flowing into the harbour”.
The mysterious green substance was first seen around 12 noon, flowing out of a storm drain into the harbour.
One local described the water as “cordial green” and told 9News it looked like “the radioactive stuff you see in superhero movies.”
Authorities tested the water and determined that the green substance was non-toxic and did not harm the environment.
The New South Wales Fire and Rescue Department said the source of the spill was still “unclear” but said it appeared to be flowing from a stormwater drain.
The water in the bay along Hipwood Street in Kirribilli, near Milsons Park, turned fluorescent green.
Authorities said the source of the spill was “unclear,” but said it appeared to be flowing from a storm drain.
However, social media users have claimed to have solved the mystery, with many suggesting the cause was a drainage dye called fluorescein.
Fluorescein is a non-toxic contrast agent used by plumbers to locate leaks, trace the location of pipes, and detect damage to drains and waterways.
“It’s a drain dye. Plumbers use it to trace where drains lead to. It’s completely harmless. I think the apprentice used too much,” one person wrote.
‘Sydney water apprentice dropped bucket of plumber’s dye and didn’t tell anyone,’ a second person commented.
“It was the apprentice who threw the container with the dye down the storm drain,” said a third.
Others suggested the plumber’s dye was used as part of “clean-up day,” an Australian tradition in which seniors organize fun activities or play pranks during their last week at school.
Authorities are working to remove the substance from the port and added that rain on Thursday should help the water return to normal.
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