Algae resurfaces in reflecting pool after multimillion-dollar fixes

[RandySF]

The newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool seems unable to escape an old scourge: algae blooming in the shallow water.

Thin layers of algae floated on the World War II Memorial side of the pool Friday morning, even after workers were seen cleaning out algae from the bottom of the pool Wednesday.

The reflecting pool construction project started in April and work was completed last week as part of President Donald Trump’s sprawling plan to spruce up the capital ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The president has characterized the century-old pool as “filthy” and “dirty,” claiming that the pool would look “far more beautiful, more beautiful than it did in 1922” upon renovation.

An Interior Department spokesperson said that the current algae is “residual” from supply lines that sat dormant for eight weeks during construction. The residue is part of the normal startup process, the spokesperson said.



https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/algae-resurfaces-in-reflecting-pool-multi-million-dollar-renovation-00960609

[Sancho]

1. Try injecting some bleach!!

Works on covid....

[AZJonnie]

3. Well, that actually works with algae, so they probably won't try it (nt)

[Stargleamer]

2. ETTD - A new acronym I have learned. . . n/t

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Laughter as workers put peroxide in algae-filled Reflecting Pool': '0 scientists in admin'

trump is not a good builder and ruined the reflecting pond. trump's attempts to fix the pond are really funny

Workers were spotted dumping hydrogen peroxide by the gallon into the Reflecting Pool days after President Donald Trump's .2 million renovation turned it green.

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-06-16T14:00:26Z

https://www.rawstory.com/reflecting-pool-hydrogen-peroxide/

Workers were spotted dumping hydrogen peroxide by the gallon into the Reflecting Pool days after President Donald Trump's $14.2 million renovation turned it green.

CBS News journalist Bob Kovach was on the ground at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Tuesday morning. He posted a video of gallon jugs labeled "hydrogen peroxide" lined up at the water's edge, with workers kneeling beside them and pouring the chemical straight in. The pool, which Trump had painted "American flag blue" and refilled just 12 days ago, has since turned a mossy green.

Anonymous, an X account with 7.5 million followers, posted its own video of the scene. "'They're literally dumping hydrogen peroxide into the reflecting pool this morning,'" the account wrote.....

"'Y'all, not to be a huge nerd but for the reflecting pool you would need a minimum of about 8,000 liters of 12% hydrogen peroxide to reach the 50 parts per million concentration to kill algae,'" Dr. Michael O'Brien, a South Carolina pediatrician, wrote on X. "Is this what happens when you have 0 scientists in your administration?"

"'They are now pouring bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the ultra-green algae-filled Reflecting Pool that Trump wasted $10m of our money on,'" commentator Brian Krassenstein piled on.