President Donald Trump’s expensive effort toredecorate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolhas backfired on him,with the Daily Beast statingthat he is currently implementing urgent measures to address the algae bloom prior to July 4.
As part of his larger effort to renovate and reconfigure Washington D.C. according to his own preferences, Trump initiated a $13.1 million project to repaint the city’s famous Reflecting Pool in a new blue hue, which he claimed would make it more “patriotic.” After speeding up the process andgranting a contract without competitive bidding to a Virginia-based company for the task, the project was finished last and quickly faced issues when the pool became overrun with a large growth of green algae, causing the water feature to appear so green that it was visible from planes flying thousands of feet above.
Continuing to hope for an “American Flag Blue” Reflecting Pool prepared in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary next month, Trump’s National Parks Service is now facing a critical situation. As reported by the Daily Beast in a Thursday article, the government is “urgently looking for more staff to tackle the problem,” and has classified the matter as a “regional and national priority” internally.
An email directed at National Park Service staff and obtained by the outlet mentioned that officials were addressing ‘essential operational requirements before July 4th’ and were looking for ‘more staff to help right away,’ the report noted. ‘In particular, employees are required to assist with ‘cleaning and pumping operations’ at the pool. They are being asked to work 12-hour shifts beginning this week and lasting through the weekend.’
It later continued: “The algae growth was observed within 24 hours after the completion of renovation activities this month. Personnel have already been sent to remove algae from the pool and”spread hydrogen peroxide into the water, but the algae and the resulting green color in the water have stayed.
Various theories have been proposed to understand the cause of this unexpected algae growth. Some believe that the light waves reflected from the new blue paint may be more favorable for algae development, while Cochise Wanzer II, president of the Pool Service Company in Arlington, Virginia, told the Associated Press that the occurrence was not surprising at all, considering the kind of water involved.
What did you think would happen?” Wanzer remarked. “You’re essentially taking naturally untreated river water, pumping it in, and expecting it to behave differently than it would if left in the open.
Wanzer also mentioned that the navy blue paint scheme made the pool “nice and dark,” raising the water’s temperature to a point where algae thrives more effectively.
The administration of Trump, as reported by the Daily Beast, has sought to ease criticism regarding the situation, asserting that the algae bloom is common following such a project and is being managed, while also using the chance, predictably, to praise Trump as a “skilled builder” and to undermine Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Related Articles:
・The falsehoods continue to accumulate around Trump’s most awkward scheme: report
・Reporter presents invoices after Trump states he ‘is unaware of’ Reflecting Pool vendor
・Critics mock Trump’s ‘graph’ depicting a blue-tinted reflection pool
・Staff were seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into a reflective pool to eliminate algae.
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