Interior Likens $14.2 Million Reflecting Pool Algae Fight to Iran War as Coating Peels
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 18
Interior Likens $14.2 Million Reflecting Pool Algae Fight to Iran War as Coating Peels
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 18
Summary
$14.2 million in refurbishment has still left Washington’s reflecting pool green, with workers in waders skimming algae as parts of the new blue coating began peeling by Thursday.
The Interior Department nonetheless said the water was “crystal clear” and compared vacuumed-up algae to the “destroyed Iranian Navy” after blaming “Fake News Media” for reports the pool remained murky.
Trump had ordered the century-old monument repainted “American Flag blue” before the US 250th birthday, but residual algae spread in warm weather despite promises that nanobubbler treatment had killed it.
The troubled makeover is part of Trump’s broader push to remake Washington in his second term and has drawn scrutiny because the no-bid contract went to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which previously worked on one of his golf club pools.