President Donald Trump’s initiative to revamp the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may fall short, much like his pledge to drain the swamp.
On Friday, The New York Times published a report indicating that the renovation of this historic site overlooks a crucial problem that could render the effort financially wasteful: the lack of a plan to repair its leaking pipes.
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The core problem is the persistent algae infestation in the pool, which has led observers to describe it as “really sludgy,” “disgusting,” and reeking of “wet dog,” as reported by CNN in 2012.
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In April, Trump unveiled a plan to revitalize the pool by cleaning and grouting its granite surface, followed by applying a waterproof coating in an “American flag blue” hue, resembling a swimming pool.
The Virginia-based firm Atlantic Industrial Coatings was given a no-bid contract for the project, initially estimated by Trump to cost $1.8 million. However, by May, reports indicated that the company increased the price to $13.1 million to meet the deadline for America’s 250th birthday celebrations, as requested by Trump.
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The Times highlights that during Trump’s first term, Park Services advised him that the sole resolution to the algae issue was to replace extensive piping. These underground pipes, located in the adjacent parkland, are responsible for channeling water from the pool to a treatment facility where algae and bacteria are removed before the water is recirculated back into the pool.
The complication, as reported by the Times, lies in the pipes’ plastic walls, which fail due to soil pressure, leading to breakages and leaks. When this occurs, the pool must be drained, halting the filtration system for weeks and allowing algae to thrive.
The current contractor is not addressing the pipe issue. Instead, their focus is on the expansion joints between the pool’s concrete slabs.
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According to the Times, the concrete slabs expand and contract with temperature changes, requiring the seals to be flexible yet watertight. These seals have failed repeatedly over the years, prompting the contractor to fill the gaps with solid foam before applying the blue-tinted sealant.
However, the Times reveals that past analyses suggest water leaks primarily around the slabs rather than through them. Documents obtained by the outlet show the firm’s attempts to resolve leaks in this manner have failed twice.
On Monday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum celebrated on X, announcing that “The Reflecting Pool is now 100% coated with American Flag Blue sealant!”
“Another major milestone in restoring this landmark and ensuring it lasts for generations of Americans to celebrate our great history in our nation’s capital,” he wrote.
Nonetheless, Burgum’s optimistic statement might be premature, as experts warn that without addressing the pipe issues, the algae problem will likely return.
The Times cautions that should this occur, the newly waterproofed blue surface of the pool might once again be obscured by a layer of green algae.
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