Residents in Sydney’s Milson Park were shocked and alarmed when the seawater in the harbor turned blood red, resembling a scene from a horror movie. Puzzled locals noticed the scarlet stream gathering around the harbor, prompting the local council to send officials to investigate the cause of the strange phenomenon. Despite the authorities being unable to determine the reason behind the change in color, one theory suggests that plumbers’ dye called Fluorescein may have been the cause.

Investigators traced the red water back to a drain in Kirribilli, leading them to believe that plumbers’ dye had caused the dramatic change in the water color. The North South Wales Protection Authority was alerted by the North Sydney Council and is conducting an investigation to identify the source of the problem. While Fluorescein has low toxicity, its use should be minimized to prevent such visual effects. This incident is not the first time a plumbing error has resulted in colored water in Sydney, as a few months prior, fluorescent green water was found near homes, also caused by plumbers’ dye.
The bizarre incidents involving colored water in Sydney are believed to be the result of plumbers’ dye being accidentally released into the drains, causing a visual spectacle that alarmed residents. Despite the shock and confusion caused by the blood red and fluorescent green water, no hazards to marine life or surrounding properties have been identified. The North South Wales Protection Authority is conducting investigations to determine the source of the plumbers’ dye and ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.
The residents of Kirribilli were left perplexed by the sudden change in color of the seawater in the harbor, resembling a scene from a horror movie. Officials from the local council were dispatched to investigate the unusual occurrence, but were unable to determine the cause until they traced the red water back to a drain and identified plumbers’ dye as the likely culprit. The use of Fluorescein dye, although not toxic in small amounts, resulted in a striking visual effect in the water, prompting the authorities to minimize its use to prevent similar incidents.
The Sydney incidents involving red and green colored water have raised concerns among residents about the potential hazards to marine life and the environment. However, investigations by the North South Wales Protection Authority have not identified any significant risks posed by the plumbers’ dye that caused the colored water. While the visual effects may have been startling and alarming, they have not resulted in any long-term harm to the ecosystem or surrounding properties in the affected areas.
The accidental release of plumbers’ dye into the drains in Sydney has resulted in two separate incidents of colored water in the local harbors, sparking concerns among residents and authorities. The North South Wales Protection Authority is working to identify the source of the dye and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Despite the initial shock and confusion caused by the blood red and fluorescent green water, no significant harm to the environment or marine life has been reported, reassuring residents that the incidents were primarily visual spectacles. It remains important for plumbers and other professionals to exercise caution and minimize the use of dyes in drainage systems to avoid such incidents in the future.

© 2025 Tribune Times. All rights reserved.