National Park Service Flushes Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Pipes

The National Park Service is flushing the piping system of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., for the first time in more than ten years. The agency partially refilled the pool to allow staff and contractors to clear the pipes, warning that the process may temporarily discolor the water as buildup is removed.

This maintenance effort follows a series of failures, including the presence of algae-filled water and peeling paint that was intended for the America 250 celebrations. According to signs posted at the site, more than half of the 58 water supply ports were nonfunctioning. The agency attributed this condition to "years of neglect by previous administrations," specifically citing the terms of Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.