science
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Receives Nanobubble Treatment After Coating Separation and Algae Observed
Sections of the new blue liner have lifted from the floor of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool less than two weeks after the $14 million project finished. The water has also turned green from an algae bloom.
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Sections of the coating applied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have separated from the surface less than two weeks after the renovation concluded. Photographs show pieces of the liner in the water, which has developed a green appearance from algae.
The project, valued between $2 million and $16 million, reached completion earlier this month ahead of Independence Day events marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings of Virginia carried out the work under a no-bid contract that included a 20 percent profit margin. The scope included repainting the base a flag blue color and addressing leaking joints. The Reflecting Pool contains 75 million gallons of water and ranges from 18 to 30 inches in depth.
On Tuesday morning, workers introduced gallons of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide concentrate into the pool to address the algae.
The National Park Service has deployed an advanced filtration system using ozone-injected nanobubbles. The Department of the Interior announced this deployment on June 15. The nanobubble technology received testing and validation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Ohio State University, and The University of Florida.
The agency has stated that the hydrogen peroxide treatment produces no harmful side effects to marine life or the environment. The Reflecting Pool receives water from the nearby Tidal Basin.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the water remained green according to the Washington Monument live camera feed. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited the pool following the recoating and refilling. President Trump posted on Truth Social that the renovation employed highly sophisticated material with a potential lifespan of 100 years.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its CEO Charles A. Birnbaum filed a lawsuit challenging the redesign. The administration has moved to dismiss the suit, stating that the changes do not cause harm. A Department of the Interior spokesperson said last month that the contract price reflects the effort required to finish the project ahead of the anniversary celebrations.
