Council investigates after Birmingham stream turns “strange” bright red, leaving locals bewildered

A stream in Birmingham has mysteriously turned bright red, leaving locals bewildered as to the source of the colour change.

Visitors to Hawthorn Brook in Perry Common Meadows noticed the crimson-coloured water on Wednesday and alerted the council.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency (EA) said its officers had attended the site and were working with Severn Trent Water to investigate the incident.

Perry Common ward councillor Jenny Bermingham posted a photo of the unusually red stream on X, formerly Twitter, stating: “I have been made aware of the strange happening in Perry Common Meadows and I am having it investigated”.

Birmingham city council revealed it was aware of the “discoloration”, while a council spokesperson asked visitors to the site to avoid entering the water until the redness had evaporated or dissolved.

By Thursday afternoon (25 January), Cllr Bermingham confirmed “the colour has dissipated” but said she was “determined to find out the original cause.”

In a similar incident last July, part of the River Trent turned orange and bright blue after clothing dyes were accidentally released into the water.