The Trump administration's handling of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's algae outbreak has sparked controversy and raised questions about the effectiveness of the chosen technology. The $1.7 million ozone nanobubbler, designed to clear the pool, has never been used on a pool before, according to a report. This device shoots microscopic bubbles of oxygen into the water to blast apart algae, bacteria, and other contaminants. However, its manufacturer, Greenwater Services, has only tested it on waterway projects, raising concerns about its suitability for the Reflecting Pool.
The nanobubbler was installed temporarily on June 6 due to a tight deadline to clear the pool for the Fourth of July celebrations. The temporary devices were visible from the surface and used the same amount of power as the permanent system. However, the algae blooms materialized shortly after, encouraged by the warm, muggy summer weather in Washington, D.C. The New York Times reported that problems with the stopgap devices may have played a part in the spread of the water weed.
Chas Antinone, Greenwater's president and chief operating officer, defended the company's part in the $16 million renovation, stating that their job was to bring a technology that can keep the Reflecting Pool looking clean. However, the Trump administration's response to the algae outbreak has been criticized. Trump blamed Democrat-aligned saboteurs for the aquatic plant infestation and celebrated an improvement in the water's condition on Truth Social, claiming that the "criminally-made algae is gone."
The Department of the Interior defended the companies involved in the project, awarded no-bid contracts, by stating that they were selected because they had the expertise, workforce, and materials needed to complete the project in the required timeline. However, the effectiveness of the chosen technology and the administration's response to the algae outbreak remain a subject of debate and scrutiny.
