The Algae Outbreak and the Use of a New Technology
A unique device was used to clear an algae outbreak from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after a recent refurbishment. This device, known as the "ozone nanobubbler," is designed to eliminate algae, bacteria, and other contaminants by injecting 500 million microscopic bubbles of oxygen into every teaspoon of water. According to reports, this technology has never been used on a pool before.
The $1.7 million ozone nanobubbler was developed by Greenwater Services, a company that has only tested the technology on waterway projects such as the Tijuana River, Ohio’s Lake Newport, and Florida’s Port Mayaca. The technology is relatively new, having been in development for just five years.
Challenges with Temporary Devices
Greenwater faced a tight deadline to clear the pool in time for the Fourth of July celebrations. As the permanent model was still being built at its Ohio plant when the process of refilling the 6.5 million-gallon pool began on June 4, the company sent four temporary versions of the technology for use until the permanent model was ready.
These temporary devices were installed on June 6 and operated using the same amount of power as the permanent system. However, they were removed on June 12 at the request of the National Park Service (NPS), which did not provide a reason for the removal. It was around this time that algae blooms first appeared, likely due to the warm and muggy summer weather in Washington, D.C.
The New York Times reported that problems with the temporary devices may have contributed to the spread of water weeds. Documents cited by the newspaper showed that workers complained that one or two of the four temporary nanobubblers were not working at any given time because of generator issues, and that the water was turning green.
The temporary models were returned to the water 24 hours after their removal at the request of the NPS and ran until June 25.
The Arrival of the Permanent Nanobubbler
By June 25, the permanent nanobubbler had arrived and was installed out of sight in a nearby pump house. It was ready to operate in place of the temporary devices, supplying pure oxygen into the Reflecting Pool to tackle the algae through an intricate network of pipes.
Chas Antinone, president and chief operating officer of Greenwater, told CNN that he believed the company's part in the $16 million renovation of the 103-year-old landmark had gone according to plan, despite the controversy over the current state of the pool. He emphasized that his company's goal was to bring a technology that could keep the Reflecting Pool looking clean and reflecting the way it should.
Defense of the Companies Involved
The Department of the Interior has defended the companies involved in the project, who were awarded no-bid contracts. They stated that the White House was not involved in the selection process for any contract and did not weigh in on the companies selected. The companies were chosen because they had the expertise, workforce, and materials needed to complete the massive project within the required timeline to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Statements from Officials
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers and a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior both told The Independent that the water in the pool is currently “crystal clear” and that the landmark is “reflecting beautifully” once again. The Independent also reached out to Greenwater Services and the NPS for further comment.
President Trump has blamed the aquatic plant infestation and problems with the peeling “American Flag Blue” sealant used to re-line the bottom of the pool on Democrat-aligned saboteurs. On Sunday, he cheered an improvement in the water’s condition by reporting on Truth Social that the “criminally-made algae is gone.”
Six people were arrested over the vandalism alleged by the president last weekend, and he has since reminded the public that the penalty for destruction of government property is prison.
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