Fluoro green water seen in Careening Cove

26 September 2024

By Hannah Wilcox

Residents have been left baffled after the water in Careening Cove off Milsons Park turned fluorescent green on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency services were alerted to the unusual colour flooding the water backing onto Hipwood Street, Kirribilli, around 3pm.

Green water had also been spotted by two different locals in a stormwater drain at Anderson park and in another park in Neutral Bay a day earlier, 9News reported.

“While the appearance of bright green water in our harbour is alarming, it is reassuring that testing conducted by NSW Fire and Rescue returned a zero result for major pollutants,” a Council spokesperson told the Sun. 

“Council rangers and engineers attended the site, along with NSW Fire and Rescue and Sydney Water.”

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

Sydney Water confirmed the drainage system was flushed out, with the drainage network clear of the green water by 6.40pm.

Council engineers believe the substance is likely to be fluorescein, used as a dye for plumbing works, the spokesperson added.

It is a non-toxic substance able to be broken down with UV light – the green purely an indicator that makes it easy to trace.