Rips appear in Reflecting Pool's new sealant after algae turn water green

President Trump's efforts to spruce up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool faced a snag this week, with algae turning the water a fluorescent green hue while rips appeared in an "American Flag Blue" surface handpicked by the president. The century-old Reflecting Pool has long faced problems with leaks, algae and faulty plumbing. In April, the president launched an effort to address the pool's "terrible" condition, part of a slate of spring cleaning projects in Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation's 250th birthday — as Mr. Trump seeks to put his architectural stamp on the city. Mr. Trump had the pool's stone flooring coated with a sealant he called the "latest and greatest filament" and an "industrial-grade" variation of swimming pool liner. He told reporters he personally chose the sealant's color: "American Flag Blue." Federal contracts for the project were valued at more than $14 million . But several days ago, after water was pumped back in, a sheen of green algae appeared. A family of ducks swims among algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 16. Photo by Emily Alff/Sipa USA via AP Images A Department of the Interior spokesperson told CBS News last weekend the algae outbreak was "part of the normal startup process" and would be cleaned out shortly. "What you are seeing is residual algae from the supply lines which have been sitting dormant for eight weeks while construction has been taking place," the spokesperson said. "President Donald J. …