Algae 'to hit Di fountain'

The headline struck me as funny.

Picture and story here
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004342260,00.html
Algae 'to hit Di fountain'
Memorial fountain ... could be hit by slimy algae
By SUN ONLINE REPORTER
THE fountain built in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales is a potential
breeding ground for slippery algae, an expert warned today.
Professor Rick Battarbee, of the Environmental Change Research Centre at
University College London, believes the slimy substance could coat the stones
and make it dangerous to paddle in the fountain.
The £3.6million feature is currently closed to visitors as investigators
attempt to make the oval monument safer after three people were hurt after
slipping at the tourist attraction in Hyde Park, London.
Workmen have been called in to roughen up the texture of the stones to improve
the grip.
But Royal Parks spokesman Theo Moore insisted that algae was not a problem:
"Algae was anticipated. That’s why it’s cleaned every Monday between 7 and
10.30am with high pressure jet washes and good old fashioned scrubbing."
The summer weather offers an ideal environment for the algae’s growth,
Professor Battarbee said.
The tribute to Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997, was officially opened by
the Queen on July 6.
But just a day later it ran into trouble after being blocked by fallen leaves
during stormy weather.
Less than a week on, the fountain’s cascading water stopped temporarily due
to a blocked pump.
..
kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

So they're not chlorinating this thing? Someone wasn't thinking. ~ jan

On 27 Jul 2004 17:41:33 GMT, EROSPAM (Ka30P) wrote:

The headline struck me as funny.

Picture and story here
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004342260,00.html
Algae 'to hit Di fountain'
Memorial fountain ... could be hit by slimy algae
By SUN ONLINE REPORTER
THE fountain built in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales is a potential
breeding ground for slippery algae, an expert warned today.
Professor Rick Battarbee, of the Environmental Change Research Centre at
University College London, believes the slimy substance could coat the stones
and make it dangerous to paddle in the fountain.
The £3.6million feature is currently closed to visitors as investigators
attempt to make the oval monument safer after three people were hurt after
slipping at the tourist attraction in Hyde Park, London.
Workmen have been called in to roughen up the texture of the stones to improve
the grip.
But Royal Parks spokesman Theo Moore insisted that algae was not a problem:
"Algae was anticipated. That’s why it’s cleaned every Monday between 7 and
10.30am with high pressure jet washes and good old fashioned scrubbing."
The summer weather offers an ideal environment for the algae’s growth,
Professor Battarbee said.
The tribute to Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997, was officially opened by
the Queen on July 6.
But just a day later it ran into trouble after being blocked by fallen leaves
during stormy weather.
Less than a week on, the fountain’s cascading water stopped temporarily due
to a blocked pump.
.
kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

(Do you know where your water quality is?)