The National Park Service continued efforts Tuesday to eliminate a persistent algae problem at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, deploying advanced water treatment technology as the green-tinged water drew attention from tourists and residents alike.
The Department of Interior has implemented a two-pronged approach to address the algae blooms that have discolored the historic landmark. Workers are utilizing both hydrogen peroxide treatments and nanobubble ozone technology in an effort to restore the pool’s appearance following the completion of a major renovation project.
The algae appeared late last week, just days after the renovation work concluded, transforming the pool’s water from a deep blue to an unsightly green. A Department of Interior spokesperson attributed the bloom to residual algae from reactivated supply lines that had been dormant during the renovation period.
Video footage posted to social media Tuesday morning showed workers adding hydrogen peroxide directly to the pool. According to the Interior Department, the nanobubble ozone technology is actively eliminating algae and other contaminants. This process involves releasing microscopic gas bubbles filled with ozone into the water, which effectively breaks down algae blooms at the molecular level.
National Park Service rangers were observed Tuesday afternoon manually scraping algae from the pool’s bottom. A tubing system had been established to remove contaminated water and channel it into storm drains. The Interior Department emphasized that the hydrogen peroxide treatment poses no threat to marine life or the environment.
One Park Service ranger noted that the water remained noticeably cloudy due to disturbed algae that had not yet been extracted from the pool. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stated that the nanobubble ozone technology would be incorporated into regular maintenance procedures to maintain water clarity going forward.
President Trump has frequently highlighted the Reflecting Pool renovation in public remarks and on social media platforms. In May, he promised the landmark would achieve an impressive appearance and criticized the pool’s previous condition. The president also took aim at prior administrations for unsuccessful renovation attempts.
The project, initially conceived as an expedited effort to resurface the pool and upgrade its filtration system before the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, has grown considerably in scope and cost. Federal contract records indicate the endeavor has expanded to nearly fifteen million dollars, creating an unexpected public relations challenge for the administration.
Employees from Greenwater Services, an Ohio-based company specializing in water purification and nanobubble technology, were present at the site Tuesday. Personnel were observed collecting water samples in plastic bottles for analysis. Federal records show the government awarded Greenwater a contract worth one point seven million dollars in April to install new filtration technology for the Reflecting Pool.
Algae growth has historically been a recurring problem at the landmark, though the timing of this outbreak has proven particularly unfortunate given the recent completion of the extensive renovation work.
The situation underscores the challenges inherent in maintaining historic landmarks while simultaneously upgrading their infrastructure to meet modern standards.
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