Mystery solved: Why Hobart rivulet turned green
The greenery of the Tasmanian landscape is sight to behold, but when a notable waterway turned green, it left residents concerned and confused. The cause of the change in colour has since been uncovered.
Tasmania
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Hobart City Council says the striking green temporary colour change in sections of the Hobart Rivulet on Monday was due to a non toxic dye.
Onlookers were surprised to see the change on Monday at around 2pm.
The water was back to normal hours later.
City of Hobart City Life Director Neil Noye said it was as a result of private testing.
“Yesterday’s Hobart Rivulet colouring was the result of fluorescein dye testing by a private contractor,” Mr Noye said.
“Fluorescein is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly dye used to test pipes and drainage.
“It is used frequently by private contractors and TasWater.”
A TasWater spokesperson confirmed the testing wasn’t a result of the company’s activities.
Hobart rivulet turns fluoro green
It’s known for platypus and a popular walking track, but what Hobart Rivulet isn’t known for is being green.
When Harry Schofield walked by a section of the waterway on Monday after 2pm, that’s exactly what he saw.
“It was like a fluoro green colour running through the rivulet, it’s hard to describe, it was quite concerning,” he said.
“It was at least 100 metres up stream, it continued down stream for quite some distance.”
“It did have quite an abrupt stop to it, the transition to the normal water and the green water.”
Mr Schofield said he was one of several people who had stopped to look at the colour change.
“I’d be concerned of some sort of potential environmental issue that would disturb the ecosystems,” he said.
“You could see trout through the rivulet and they seemed happy enough.”
By 5pm the sections had cleared and the water was back to normal.
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