Babylon Residents Claim Canal Shows Mysterious Discharge

BABYLON VILLAGE, NY — There's something in the water in Babylon — but this summer, it doesn't have fins.

Many longtime residents claim that a dark residue has mysteriously appeared in a Babylon Village canal, multiple reports said.

Located between South Bay Drive and Little East Neck Road, the canal empties into the Great South Bay, New 12 reported.

The residue is described as a "mysterious film" and presents a "foul" order, CBS reported.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) told Patch they conducted an investigation of the residue on Sunday, along with U.S. Coast Guard personnel.

Officials have not yet confirmed what the residue is, but believe it is not oil based and is not from raw sewage.

Some organic material was discovered at the site which potentially could be the source of the odor issue, a representative said.

The DEC and the Coast Guard also inspected an upstream (up-flow) storm drain and did not notice any impacts to the area. The DEC also requested the village and town of Babylon, which have oversight over the stormwater system in this area, to investigate any potential cause beyond the organic material observed.

A representative from the Suffolk County Department of Health Office of Wastewater Management also told Patch that they have taken samples of the residue, but have yet to receive confirmed results.