Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool cleaned after 80 ducklings die

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been cleaned and refilled after about 80 ducklings died in the pool in May.

The Washington Post reports the pool’s 26.5 million litres were drained after crews found about 80 dead ducklings in May. Officials say the deaths were caused by a parasite in snails that lived in the water.

National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst says going forward, park officials will test the water more often.

Most of the ducklings were relocated while the pool was cleaned and treated. A plastic pool was temporarily put inside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for the ducks.