 The algae bloom in the Potomac and the Washington aqueduct sedimentation ponds was clogging filters. The boil water alert was a prudent precaution to ensure public safety. Colonel S.D. Pinchasen with the Army Corps of Engineers. Our top priority was to ensure that we had firefighting capability, especially here, Fourth of July weekend here in D.C. In a conference call last night, EPA gave the okay to add two algae-fighting chemicals to the aqueduct's reservoirs.