The Trump administration spent millions renovating the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall to make it ‘American flag blue’ in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. However, the water has turned a dark green due to algae growth, despite significant cost and controversy.

Renovation Efforts

The new hue comes after President Donald Trump boasted about the beautiful blue color the pool would have. The National Park Service is using ‘high-tech nanobubble ozone technology’ to kill algae, pathogens, and contaminants, as well as hydrogen peroxide to treat the pool.

Shallow manmade bodies of water like the Reflecting Pool are prone to algal growth because they are warm, exposed to the sun, and often filled with nutrients. The Trump administration has faced controversy and legal pushback over the renovation project, including a no-bid contract to a company that has performed work at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

Controversy and Criticism

The project has been criticized for its cost and the use of taxpayer money. The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued the Trump administration in May to try to block the reflecting pool from being redone, arguing that the original design was intentional and should be preserved.

The Reflecting Pool is just one of several changes the president is pushing across D.C., including restoring fountains and adding a new surface to the World War II memorial fountain. The president is also pushing for the construction of a 250-foot arch near the Potomac River, which has prompted legal challenges from veterans and historians.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.