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.

Renovation Controversy

The renovation project, which cost around $10 million, faced controversy and legal pushback. The New York Times reported that the government paid more than $13 million through a no-bid contract to a company that has performed work at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

Despite the controversy, the Trump administration touted the Reflecting Pool renovation as a success. However, the green color of the water has raised questions about the effectiveness of the renovation. The National Park Service is using ‘high-tech nanobubble ozone technology’ to kill algae, pathogens, and contaminants.

The Reflecting Pool is a shallow, manmade body of water that is prone to algal growth due to its warm temperature, exposure to sunlight, and nutrient-rich environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can spur algal blooms.

Trump’s Response

President Trump had celebrated the completed work on the Reflecting Pool, saying in a Truth Social post that the pool’s surface was now a ‘very complex, but powerful, Dark Blue.’ However, the green color of the water has raised questions about the effectiveness of the renovation.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.