‘Looking like sick’ - Brummies react as water in Birmingham city centre fountain turns green

Birmingham’s Chamberlain Memorial Fountain has been described as ‘looking like sick’ after turning a sewer green colour. Fresh-looking water usually flows out of the prominent landmark, based outside Dishoom restaurant.

But city centre workers said that, at some point over the past 48 hours, the fountain’s H20 turned murky and dirty. Bartender Sean Wilson, who walks through Chamberlain Square on his way to work, said: “I first noticed it had become discoloured late on Monday [August 21].

“This part of the city is incredibly aesthetic but, saying that, not sure many people will want to take Instagram shots at the minute with the water looking like sick. Really quite gross.”

The Grade ll listed fountain’s system also broke in April this year, again causing it to transform into a green lagoon. Birmingham City Council and the nearby Paradise development managed to eventually fix the fault.

Paradise apologised at the time and said an issue with the fountain’s pumps and drainage systems had caused the ‘water decolourisation’. Brummie Reiss Omari, who spotted the fountain’s unusual appearance on Tuesday (August 22), said: “There must be an issue with the drainage or filter. It doesn’t look great, considering how brilliant the rest of Paradise looks. It appears to be a problem that happens almost monthly.”

The fountain was installed in 1880 to commemorate Joseph Chamberlain’s mayoralty and his public service. It was Grade ll listed in 1970. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Birmingham City Council for comment on the cause of the fountain breaking and an estimate of when it will be fixed.