The National Park Service plans to begin draining the reflecting pool following the Independence Day celebration to conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining, according to NPS Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands.

Background

The Reflecting Pool has been riddled with issues in recent weeks, from claims of vandalism to algae bloom and peeling blue material. A nonprofit sued the Trump administration last month over the president’s order to paint the pool blue, arguing that the project violates federal laws requiring the Interior Department to complete a consultation process that includes notifying the public and getting input from other federal agencies before beginning the work.

President Trump took a personal interest in the pool earlier this year as part of his efforts to beautify the nation’s capital. The pool had previously gone through a two-year renovation in 2012 during the Obama administration. Trump expanded the scope of the project and ordered cosmetic changes, including painting the bottom of the pool a shade of blue that resembles the American flag’s blue field.

The renovation was expedited so it would be completed before the country’s 250th anniversary. However, signs that the project did not go according to plan emerged just a day after the reservoir was filled earlier this month with quite a bit of algae visible from the water’s edge. Within days, clumps of algae took over the pool, prompting the administration to send in workers to vacuum it out, install a filtration system, and dump gallons of hydrogen peroxide in the pool.

Last week, blue material at the bottom of the pool began peeling off. The president then said several people were arrested for vandalizing the pool. An Interior Department spokesperson said there have been 18 police reports filed for vandalism of the pool, adding that seven people were arrested.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.