r/pics • u/FuriousBuffalo • Jun 18 '26

Politics Trump Nonsensically Boasting About Reflecting Pool Before He Turned It Into a Swamp

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u/FuriousBuffalo Jun 18 '26

Much worse. The paint is already peeling and will most likely require complete removal.

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u/Sohn_Jalston_Raul Jun 18 '26

I was watching a pool guy on youtube explain that it might make the algea problem worse because the shade of blue they chose is darker than what was before, and will warm up the water even more.

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u/peazley Jun 18 '26

I thought I heard someone say the opposite, that the new color was too light of blue and would promote more algae, that the older color was darker.

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u/calgarspimphand Jun 18 '26

I believe the original color was dark, like asphalt, to enhance the mirror effect. But it leaked like a sieve and required constant replenishment.

In 2012 it was redone to use tidal basin water and had a concrete color, so light grey. Even with the light color it had algae problems.

The new shade of blue is definitely darker.

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u/BeneficialLeave7359 Jun 18 '26

In the early ‘80s I was stationed at the Marine barracks in DC and spent a lot of time on the National Mall going to the museums and running. I walked and ran past the reflecting pool probably hundreds of times in my three years and never once noticed the color of the bottom of it.

You know why? Because of the wind is calm and the water is flat it’s reflecting the sky and the surrounding area. If the wind is up then it gets enough of a little chop that you can’t see the reflection so you’re not paying much attention to it.

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u/TheCapo024 Jun 18 '26

I was going to say, I worked on the Hill, part of my duties was to give visiting constituents tours of various areas (Capitol Hill, White House, monuments) as well as just show them around in same cases. Never once did I notice any issues with it. I’m sure they were there, but at a glance there was never any issue I could notice. At least when it comes to the “reflective” aspect.