National Mall’s reflecting pool to be drained temporarily

For a limited amount of time, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be drained in order to clean it. The Washington Post reported that the seven-million-gallon pool will be refilled on June 16.

The reasoning behind the draining is that the National Park Service believes there are snails with parasites in the eight-acre pool, which has resulted in the death of approximately 80 ducks. The parasites are known as schistosome and are able to cause swimmer’s itch in humans. Chemical treatments are not enough to reduce the parasite population, according to NPR.

This Tuesday, cleaning and bottom treatment will begin.

• Mall’s Reflecting Pool to be drained and refilled [The Washington Post]

• Park Service To Drain Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool After 80 Ducks Die [NPR]