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Reflecting Pool beset by algae bloom after renovation
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, recently renovated with a $14 million "American flag blue" bottom, has turned chartreuse due to an algal bloom just days after its reopening.
- The pool's large size—larger than 10 Olympic-sized pools—and its water source, the Tidal Basin, complicate efforts to control algae growth despite chemical and ozone nanobubble treatments.
- The new dark paint on the pool’s bottom raises water temperature, inadvertently promoting algae growth, making maintenance more challenging.
- National Park Service workers are using milder treatments like hydrogen peroxide and vacuuming algae, emphasizing environmentally safe methods to manage the issue.
- Experts suggest that fully draining and refilling the pool with fresh water may be necessary for long-term algae control, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining the reflecting pool’s clarity.
