The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Washington's National Mall is scheduled to be drained once more for repair work, local reporting said, coming just weeks after a $14.7 million renovation was declared finished.
Authorities in the District have issued a permit allowing DC Water to empty the 2,000-foot-long (609-meter) rectangular pool, according to Washington-based WTOP Radio. The contractor that completed the recent work has said it will address the areas needing correction under the terms of its warranty.
The National Park Service and DC Water did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision to drain the pool or on the permit.
Since the renovation was declared complete on June 6, observers have noted peeling paint and the growth of algae in the pool. Those issues have drawn attention to the no-bid contract used to recoat the pool ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations next month, as well as concerns for the ducks that routinely use the pool's water.
President Donald Trump has pointed to alleged vandalism as the cause of the visible damage, though he did not provide evidence when making the claim. On Monday he reiterated an earlier warning by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro about prosecuting individuals accused of trying to damage the landmark.
"Please remember that there is a 10-year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things - Which will be fully enforced!" Trump wrote in a social media post.
Trump also said several arrests have been made. Media reports, citing an administration official, indicate that at least five people have been arrested, including a former Olympian who has publicly denied the charges, and that five others received citations.
The U.S. Park Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrests or citations.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the Virginia-based company responsible for the renovation, said on Sunday that the areas requiring repair comprised "a very small part of the massive 7-acre (2.83-hectare) project, and do not indicate a failure of the liner." The company’s statement framed the needed work as limited in scope relative to the full project.
Reporting on the decision to drain the pool and the associated statements from officials and the contractor continues to unfold. Local authorities and the contractor have indicated the repairs will proceed, while federal law enforcement and park officials have not issued immediate comments on the situation.