Hudson Valley Residents Stunned by Bright Red Water Behind Train Station

Did you happen to see the water behind the Scarborough Train Station in Ossining?

On Wednesday October 21st, 2026, the water turned a bright red which had many in the community concerned.

Water Turns Bright Red In Ossining, New York

The Ossining Police Department shared a few photos of what looked like a scene out of a horror movie.

The water behind the Scarborough Train Station had turned bright red.

A body of water turning bright red on a random Wednesday in October? Spooky vibes for sure.

Thankfully, nothing too sinister was going on. The Ossining Police Department took to social media to explain unusual sight.

After taking a few jabs at Alabama Football, the Ossining Police Department wrote:

On a moderately serious note, the red water outside of the Scarborough Train Station is due to a tidal study being conducted. There is no threat to the public, or Auburn Football. Enjoy your Wednesday, and don't drink the Kool-Aid.

The Ossining Police Department is known for their humorous post about what's happening in the community, so you had to know they would have fun with this one.

Ossining Community Concerned About Red Water

While there was no threat to the public, the public was obviously concerned about why a body of water in their neighborhood was bright red.

A concerned citizen commented  on the social media post:

Can you tell us who conducted the tidal study? The folks who live in Kemeys Cove condos and the Sparta apartments were rightly upset. It would have been appropriate to give us a heads up

Another person wrote "Saw some of it from the train. Thought that I was hallucinating."

Why Did The Water Turn Red in Ossining?

The Ossining Police Department explained that there was a "tidal study being conducted" but what does that mean and why did the water turn red?

So we did a little research.

ScienceDirect.com explains that Rhodamine WT is used in tidal studies. It has a "distinct reddish-pink hue that can be tracked visually by scientists in the field."

Rhodamine WT is non-toxic to fish, birds and plants and is safe for the public. Additionally is doesn't stain boats or surrounding properties and it will break down under natural sunlight.

You can learn more about the dye and tide studies on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website.