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Few sights in DC this summer have been as thrillingly gross as the bright blue Navy Memorial Fountain, seen above in all its icky glory just yesterday afternoon. When I first documented this eyesore, I dubbed it the Ty-D-Bol Memorial Fountain, and all the local bloggers came out of the woodwork to share their concern and disdain. Imagine our horror when they just kept adding the caustic dyestuff, thrilling tasteless visitors and appalling all the rest of us. Surely, we mused with one voice, they're not going to keep it that way? OMG, are they?
Well, fear not! Yesterday I received the following right from the horse's mouth:
Hi there!Let's take one last look so that everybody can realize just how happy the above email made me:
My name is Humza Kazmi, and I work at the US Navy Memorial Foundation. We just found out about the fact that you mentioned us on your blog (or at least our fountains, and their sudden and unexpected blue color). Firstly - thank you! Secondly, you (and your readers) expressed dissatisfaction about the color.
Here's the thing. Even though the initial plan was just to run the blue water a few days, it's being run continuously because the algae just won't die. We figured it was better to have blue water than to have an algae-encrusted memorial. The blue water should hopefully disappear by summer's end.
All the best!
Sincerely,
Humza Kazmi
US Navy Memorial Foundation
EDIT: I was looking at the algae encrustations on the fountain this morning, and I couldn't help but wonder if the Navy Memorial people have ever heard of wire brushes? I mean, you've got to use a little elbow grease, people!
8 comments:
Mwahahahahaha
The algae just won't die, just like this administration and its totally screwed up world view..........
How funny! I wondered what was going on with that fountain!!
I would think the algae would die if they would just drain the water and let it bake in the sun for a few days.
Like if we removed the censorship/propaganda and let the big media talk about the administration's actual actions, it might dry up and flake away on its own as well...
Suggest to your Memorial pal that he check the pH of the water. I'm assuming they are using copper sulfate which doesn't work well at a pH above 7 and perhaps acidic compounds are being stripped out as the water cascades. I'm just saying.
Or maybe someone switched Peter's plant food for the copper sulfate.
This has been your environmental engineering moment. Please go back to what you were doing.
Maybe they could check with THE FUCKING NAVY about what to do? I betcha 8 bux the Navy has dealt with algae....
Maybe I should grab my grill brush and head over there right now. I mean, I'm currently unemployed, it would be community service. Ooh...maybe we could get Jack Abramoff to do it. I'd pay to see that.
Ha ha! Mr. Natural, your suggestion is so obvious that it's no wonder they never thought of it.
The water is aqua, not navy blue, so perhaps it's a tribute to the GAY members of the Navy. God knows there are plenty of them.
Obligatory gravel-voiced captain: "Awright! Break out the brushes and get after that algae!"
Obligatory grumbling sailor: "Hgph, Goddamn algae's the only thing holding this place together."
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