Dubai Municipality has clarified that the orange colour that appeared on June 23 in the man-made water canal in Dubai Marina was due to excavation works related to a construction project at Qarn Al Sabkha, which links the rainwater drainage system to the canal, said a report.

The municipality said in a statement that initial investigation showed that the change in the colour is 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.

It pointed out that chemically Bentonite is composed of absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate and water. Bentonite powder comes in different colours.

The discolouration in the water canal poses no threat to marine life or human health, reported state news agency Wam, citing senior municpal officials.

The discolouration has now almost completely disappeared and the water condition is close to normal, they stated.

Municipal officials said all necessary measures have been taken to ensure there is no further leakage from the drainage system.

Dubai Municipality has collected water samples and analysed them to identify the reason for the contamination of the water and the change in the colour, they added.