Why was the reflecting pool filled with algae after Trump’s renovation?

On Wednesday morning, Workers pour hydrogen peroxide into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

The treatment is the Interior Department’s latest attempt to control an algae bloom that has turned the pool bright green, despite a costly renovation by President Donald Trump to make it “American flag blue” in time for Christmas. 250th anniversary of the nation. Higher temperatures and climate change are among the risk factors that could lead to an outbreak.

the Trump administration He spent more than $14 million to pre-modernize the complex Celebrations across the US capital. The work was performed under a no-bid contract by a company that has never worked for the federal government. (However, she has worked at President Donald Trump’s golf courses, according to… New York Times.)

The algae began forming less than a day after the updated complex was unveiled last week. Spokesman for the Ministry of Interior He told CNN That the bloom was caused by “algae left over from the supply lines, which had been dormant for eight weeks.”

One problem seems to be the water source. A reflecting pool usually draws water from a nearby tidal pool, which is often filled with algae. During periods of high amounts of algae, the water supply is switched to municipal drinking water. The U.S. Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to WIRED’s questions about the water source currently feeding the pool.

Another issue is the weather. High temperatures create a “perfect storm for algae blooms,” says Hans Perl, a former professor at the University of North Carolina’s Marine Science Institute. Pearl says stagnant water makes the problem worse. “Lakes and reservoirs all over the world – they all have this problem during this time of year.” Hotter than normal weather is expected to hit Washington, D.C., by the end of the week, which could make the bloom more difficult to control.

Pearl also points out Another related driver The Trump administration has shown that it is in no rush to solve climate change.

“It’s getting warmer, and these flowers are expanding globally, they’re moving toward higher latitudes,” he says. “Clearly the effect of temperature allows them to improve their growth.”

Beyond hydrogen peroxide, the Interior Department is “deploying high-tech ozone nanobubble technology” to keep algae away, an agency spokesperson told WIRED in an email.

Trump touted the work on the pool, which includes painting it blue and fixing leaks, while also saying the government-hired company would be able to make the repairs “in a lot less time, and for a lot less money.”