Sydney Harbour turned green by plumber’s dye

Waters around a prime Sydney suburb have been turned fluorescent green by run-off from a tradie.

Water in Sydney Harbour near some of the most prime real estate in the country has been turned green by a plumber.

The aquatic anomaly coloured the water next to Milson Park, Kirribilli, near Hipwood Street on Wednesday afternoon.

A “large spill of fluorescent green material” was reported to the authorities about 3pm.

The offending plumber’s fluorescein was coming out through a storm water drain nearby. Sydney Water workers fully flushed the drain by about 6.40pm.

The puzzling pigmentation covered a large area. Picture: Channel 9

A North Sydney Council spokeswoman said there were no major pollutants in the green water.

“Spill socks were placed into the storm water drain channel to stop further pollution from entering the bay,” the council spokeswoman said.

“Sydney Water flushed the drainage system and by 6.40pm the drainage network was clear of the green water.

“At this stage our engineers believe the substance is likely to be fluorescein, which is used as a dye for plumbing works.”

The fire service says the hair-raising hue is not toxic. Picture: Channel 9

“Fluorescein is a non-toxic substance and breaks down with UV light. The green colour is a feature that makes it easy to trace,” the spokeswoman said.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent, Adam Dewberry, said they received reports of the green liquid entering into “our beautiful Sydney Harbour” through the drainage system at Kirribilli.

Firefighters moved in on the area with specialist equipment and received assistance from the Port Authority, Sydney Water, North Sydney Council and the Environmental Protection Authority.

The drain which was funnelling the green water was fully flushed about three hours after the issue was reported. Picture: Channel 9

Mr Dewberry said they tested the water and were satisfied that it is “non-toxic”.

“There is no vapour or odour coming off it. It is not acidic or alkaline, so there is no corrosiveness in it. We are not seeing any evidence of fish kills or damage to the environment,” he said.

A very blustery Sydney is forecast to receive about 10mm of rain in the next week, which should dissipate the discolouration.

Fire and Rescue NSW also said they would be using fire trucks to try and flush out the substance.

The affected water is just around the corner from the Prime Minister’s official residence, Kirribilli House.

The lodge sits on the land of the Cammeraygul people, who named the point Ciar Billie or Kirribilli meaning “good fishing”.

Originally published as Sydney Harbour turned green by plumber’s dye