Crews battle algae bloom in Washington's newly repainted Reflecting Pool
Tweet
Share
E-mail
Ducks swim through algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 16, 202
By Ryan Patrick Jones
June 16 (Reuters) - Work crews poured hydrogen peroxide into the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday to combat an algae bloom, a little over a week after it was repainted as part of President Donald Trump's campaign to revamp some of Washington's major monuments.
National Park Service workers were seen emptying jugs labeled "12% hydrogen peroxide" into the visibly green water of the nearly century-old basin that stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the National Mall.
A spokesperson for the Interior Department said the pool is being treated with "high-tech nanobubble ozone technology" that kills algae, pathogens including E. coli, and other contaminants. The department said hydrogen peroxide is also being used, saying it's "a milder treatment than chlorine" that is used in spas and natural swimming pools.
Christopher Gobler, a professor at Stony Brook University in New York who has studied harmful algal blooms for more than 30 years, said hydrogen peroxide is a common short-term treatment for algae that is not likely to have major health effects on the ducks and geese that frequent the pool.
"It's most harmful to animals that are 100% in the water," Gobler said, adding the chemical can create low oxygen conditions that can be lethal to fish.
It might not be a long-term fix, though, he warned.
"There's always going to be a rebound of the algae," Gobler added. "Hopefully it works as a quick fix, but these algae do tend to rebound."
The reflecting pool was refilled with water starting on June 5 as part of a renovation project directed by Trump that involved draining, cleaning and resurfacing it. The bottom of the pool was repainted in a color Trump calls "American flag blue."
(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Bill Berkrot)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Asian stocks set for weekly gain on fading US rate hike wagers
- Yen's slide to weekly loss prompts bets for another intervention
- Indonesia's Prabowo to present high-stakes budget plans as support slips
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersRelated Entities
Donald J. TrumpSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
