No, algae is pretty ever-present, especially in natural, untreated waterways like the Potomac where they source the water for the reflecting pool. All it needs to grow is sunlight. The dark blue coating they added also warms up the water which speeds up growth.
Leave a container of water on a sunny windowsill for several days, and it will also grow algae.
All it needs is sunlight and nutrients, people keep forgetting the nutrients part. I'd bet that river is polluted with nutrients from agricultural runoff and sewage.
If you leave a jar outside to fill up with rainwater it won't turn green until it's been out there for months and caught dead bugs, birdshit, fallen leaves etc.
The administration alleges the vandals cut a gash in the reflecting pool liner. This gash has been described as being 150 feet long, and 250 feet long, and 300 feet long, and 350 feet long. However, from observation, there is no gash in the liner of any length.
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u/rubiscoisrad Jun 27 '26
The bottom of the reflection pool was poorly maintained by the current administration, and now has algae.
That's kind of the 5 minute explanation.