Reflecting Pool Algae Cleared
Interior Secretary Burgum confirms Lincoln Reflecting Pool algae cleared, defends renovation progress
Key Points
The Reflecting Pool’s bottom was painted in an 'American flag Blue' hue as part of the renovation, a detail that drew scrutiny amid the project’s optics.
Officials indicated the pool will need to be partially drained in the coming week to complete ongoing repairs.
Burgum said follow-on repairs would be handled by the same contractors who refitted the pool, with bidding bypassed due to ties to Trump and a desire to maintain continuity.
Burgum cited broader restoration achievements beyond the Reflecting Pool, noting that 48 monuments and 22 fountains were restored and about 1,000 graffiti sites were removed.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's algae problem is over, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared, calling the water "completely clean and clear." The fix comes after the $14.6 million renovation drew widespread criticism for green-tinted water and questions about vandalism, according to NBC News.
Burgum said algae had been trapped inside the refill pipes during the renovation — not caused by vandalism or poor workmanship. A nanobubbler filtration system, which pumps tiny oxygen bubbles through the water to kill algae, is now in place as a long-term solution.
No New Bids: Same Contractor Gets Follow-On Repair Work
The Trump administration will not seek competing bids for follow-on repairs to the pool, KTTC reported. Burgum said the same company, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, will handle the work. He cited the firm's ties to the project and a desire for continuity as reasons to skip the standard bidding process.
The pool will need to be partially drained within the coming week to finish those repairs, officials said. Burgum framed the decision as practical — bringing in a new contractor mid-project would slow things down and create more risk, according to WCAX.
Burgum Pushes Back on Trump's Vandalism Theory
President Trump had suggested vandals caused the green water. Burgum disputed that. He said the algae came from the pipes, not from outside tampering. Any peeling seen on the pool's surface, he explained, was due to an industrial liner — not sabotage.
Burgum did acknowledge that vandals damaged the liner itself. David Hearn has been indicted in connection with that liner damage, according to WTOK. Burgum noted that "the law applies to everyone" when asked about the case, but kept his focus on the pool's recovery rather than the criminal proceedings.
Blue Bottom Paint and Broader Renovation Wins Draw Scrutiny
The pool's bottom was painted what Burgum called "American flag blue" during the renovation. The color drew attention and raised eyebrows about the project's overall direction. Burgum defended the choice and the broader effort behind the $14.6 million overhaul.
He pointed to wider accomplishments to make his case. According to Wave3, Burgum said the administration restored 48 monuments and 22 fountains and removed graffiti from about 1,000 sites. He argued those numbers show the renovation was a net success, even as questions about the pool's troubled rollout linger.
Pool Set to Stay Fixed After Years of Leaking Problems
Burgum stressed that the pool will not go back to its old ways. Before the renovation, the Reflecting Pool had long struggled with leaks. He said the new work ensures it will remain sealed and functional, ending a chronic maintenance headache on the National Mall.
The nanobubbler system, he added, means algae blooms should not return either. NBC News reported Burgum called the technology a permanent solution — not a patch. Workers will complete the final repairs after the partial drain next week, and officials say the pool should then be fully operational.
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