Updated
Updated · WTOP · Aug 7
NPS Blames Prior Administrations for 58 Lincoln Pool Ports as Crews Refill Basin
Updated
Updated · WTOP · Aug 7

NPS Blames Prior Administrations for 58 Lincoln Pool Ports as Crews Refill Basin

3 articles · Updated · WTOP · Aug 7

Summary

  • At least four new National Park Service signs say years of neglect left more than half of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s 58 water supply ports clogged and nonfunctioning.
  • Crews have partially refilled the pool to flush remaining feeder pipes, and the signs warn the cleanup could temporarily discolor the water as buildup is cleared.
  • The plumbing problems are central to the Trump administration’s rationale for the restoration project, which has already run into peeling paint and algae blooms.
  • The pool has been drained twice since work began, most recently in mid-July, underscoring continuing setbacks in restoring one of Washington’s best-known landmarks.

Insights

Why did a massive multimillion-dollar restoration at the Reflecting Pool suddenly face bizarre setbacks and false vandalism claims?
Could the new darker lining meant to fix the Reflecting Pool actually be the secret culprit behind its massive algae blooms?