Get you up to speed: Rips appear in Reflecting Pool’s new sealant, chosen by Trump, after algae turn water green
Algae turned the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. a fluorescent green while a tear was spotted in the recently applied sealant. Workers were seen removing algae, and the Department of the Interior confirmed the water is now “crystal clear.”
Workers have initiated clean-up operations using hydrogen peroxide and a “nanobubbler” to control future algae growth in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which recently underwent renovations costing more than $14 million. A spokesperson from the Department of the Interior acknowledged the algae bloom as part of the normal startup process following eight weeks of construction and indicated that additional details regarding the tear in the sealant used are still forthcoming.
The Department of the Interior stated that the algae outbreak in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is “part of the normal startup process” and is being addressed, with workers currently using hydrogen peroxide and a “nanobubbler” to maintain water quality. Following reports of a tear in the sealant, further inspection and potential repairs will be necessary to ensure the longevity of the recent renovations.
What remains unclear — The Department of the Interior has not disclosed the cause of the tear in the recently applied sealant on the Reflecting Pool floor.
Rips appear in new sealant of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool amid algae bloom
President Trump’s efforts to spruce up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool faced a snag this week, with algae turning the water a fluorescent green hue while rips appeared in an “American Flag Blue” surface handpicked by the president.
The century-old Reflecting Pool has long faced problems with leaks, algae and faulty plumbing. In April, the president launched an effort to address the pool’s “terrible” condition, part of a slate of spring cleaning projects in Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday — as Mr. Trump seeks to put his architectural stamp on the city.
Mr. Trump had the pool’s stone flooring coated with a sealant he called the “latest and greatest filament” and an “industrial-grade” variation of swimming pool liner. He told reporters he personally chose the sealant’s color: “American Flag Blue.” Federal contracts for the project were valued at more than $14 million.
But several days ago, after water was pumped back in, a sheen of green algae appeared.
Photo by Emily Alff/Sipa USA via AP Images 
A Department of the Interior spokesperson told WTX US News last weekend the algae outbreak was “part of the normal startup process” and would be cleaned out shortly.
“What you are seeing is residual algae from the supply lines which have been sitting dormant for eight weeks while construction has been taking place,” the spokesperson said. “President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extremely costly attempt by Obama and Biden.”
Workers were seen in recent days removing algae from the Reflecting Pool, and on Tuesday morning, crews dumped bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the water.
Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images 
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin 
The Department of the Interior said on social media Wednesday that the water is now “crystal clear,” and workers were “vacuuming up the dead algae.” Moving forward, the agency said it is using an advanced tool called a “nanobubbler” to prevent algae from reappearing in the Reflecting Pool.
Then, on Thursday, a tear was spotted in part of the material that was applied to the floor of the pool. WTX US News has reached out to the Department of the Interior for more information.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images 
The Trump administration’s renovations mark the second time in less than 20 years that the Reflecting Pool was overhauled, following a more than $30 million project early in the Obama administration. Despite those efforts, the pool still faced algae blooms and needed to be emptied out periodically to clean out algae, goose droppings and other detritus.
Mr. Trump vowed in April to make the Reflecting Pool “beautiful” and “the way it’s supposed to be.” At one point, when workers were installing the new sealant, the president rode in his motorcade onto the dried-out pool floor — which is the length of about 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and inspected the job.
It’s the latest renovation project in and around D.C. spearheaded by the Trump administration. The president’s team also repaired fountains throughout the city, tore down the White House’s East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for renovations, and drew up plans for a gigantic triumphal arch across the river from the capital in Virginia.
The real estate developer-turned-politician has taken a personal interest in many of the projects, displaying mock-ups and speaking at length about the plans during White House events.
Mr. Trump and his administration have cast the renovations as much-needed efforts to beautify national landmarks they argue were neglected for years.
Critics, however, have called some of the projects self-aggrandizing and accused Mr. Trump of making dramatic changes without getting permission from Congress or input from the public. Several of the projects drew lawsuits, and a judge blocked the administration from closing the Kennedy Center or renaming it to add Mr. Trump’s name.
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta 
Great article! This really puts things into perspective. I appreciate the thorough research and balanced viewpoint.
Interesting read, though I think there are some points that could have been explored further. Would love to see a follow-up on this topic.
Thanks for sharing this! I had no idea about some of these details. Definitely bookmarking this for future reference.
Well written and informative. The examples provided really help illustrate the main points effectively.
This is exactly what I was looking for! Clear, concise, and very helpful. Keep up the excellent work!