Washingtons Reflecting Pool Turns Algae Green After Change in Water Chemistry

US President Donald Trump has reported that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC has been vandalized, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. On Friday, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the pool had been damaged by “radical left lunatics,” but later clarified that the damage was limited to a small area and would be remedied early next week.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool underwent a major renovation in June, which cost $14.7 million. The project included repainting the bottom of the pool with a new color dubbed “American flag blue.” However, last week, the blue material began peeling off, and algae started to grow in the water.

US National Park Service work crews have been treating the pool with hydrogen peroxide and high-tech nanobubble ozone technology to combat the algae bloom. A spokesperson for the Interior Department stated that the treatment is a milder alternative to chlorine used in swimming pools.

On Friday, Trump claimed that the site had been vandalized, but did not provide evidence to support his allegation. He later mentioned that National Park Police had arrested multiple individuals, including David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, who was detained for five hours before being released on Friday night. Hearn stated that he briefly touched a chunk of the peeling coating and was mistaken for a vandal.

The incident has sparked controversy, with Trump suggesting that similar chemicals were used to damage the National Mall. Authorities have not confirmed this information, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Source: Al Jazeera