Brown water appears at restored Meridian Hill fountain

Water has turned brown at the recently restored Cascading Fountain in Washington, D.C.'s Meridian Hill Park, officials say, marking the second prominent water feature in the capital to encounter problems shortly after a major renovation. The fountain, also known as the Malcolm X Park fountain, had just reopened in May after being shut off since 2019 for extensive repairs.

The National Park Service attributed the discoloration to sediment. According to agency statements, the brown water resulted from the reopening of two water lines that had been out of service for several years. A photographer cited in local reports said accumulated sediment and rust from old pipes flowed into the main cascading fountain when crews tested two upper fountains not included in the original repair contract. Officials said they are fine-tuning the fountain's operations and expect the water to clear within 24 to 36 hours.

The malfunction comes just months after a multimillion-dollar renovation of the fountain, which involved installing new pumps, replacing sections of cast-iron piping, and rehabilitating upper lawns. The work was conducted under a federal initiative. The fountain reopened pursuant to...