Dubai Municipality has said that the orange colour that appeared over the weekend in Dubai Marina is due to excavation works related to a construction project.
The authority said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM that the project at Qarn Al Sabkha links the rainwater drainage system to the canal. The statement added that the discolouration in the water canal posed no threat to marine life or human health, and that the orange tint had almost disappeared with the water condition close to normal.
The Municipality also said that it has taken all necessary measures to ensure there is no further leakage from the drainage system. Water samples have been collected and analysed by the Municipality to identify the reason for the contamination of the water and the change in the colour.
The initial investigation showed that the change in the colour was due to Bentonite, which reached the water canal through the water drainage system. Bentonite is generally used in excavation works as drilling mud, a binder and a barrier to groundwater.
Image credit: WAM