Algae Reappears in National Mall Reflecting Pool After $14.2 Million Renovation
The Interior Department says the newly renovated Reflecting Pool was cleared of algae, but green discoloration reappeared days after the project was completed.
The National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, recently renovated at a cost of $14.2 million, turned green again within days of the work’s completion. National Park Service crews were observed removing algae with hand tools on Sunday, yet photographs taken the following day still showed a green hue.
"The National Park Service is maintaining the Reflecting Pool," said Katie Martin, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, attributing earlier algae problems to previous administrations.
Martin added that the renovation installed "nanobubblers" that eliminated the algae bloom and that the remaining algae was being vacuumed up. The department previously described the visible algae as residual material from dormant supply lines, noting that its return was part of the normal startup process.
The renovation, announced by President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in early June, involved draining the pool, repainting it "American Flag Blue," and refilling it ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4. Public records indicate the work was awarded through a no-bid contract to a firm that had previously performed projects at a Trump-owned golf club.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining the Reflecting Pool’s water quality despite recent upgrades.
