Overview
- The pool, which President Trump announced was finished on June 6, turned green from algae within days after being refilled and prompted immediate cleanup efforts.
- National Park Service crews and contractors have poured hydrogen peroxide, vacuumed clumps from the bottom, and deployed an ozone nanobubble system to kill and remove algae.
- Reporters and visitors have documented sections of the newly applied dark “American flag blue” sealant peeling and floating to the surface, with some people taking pieces as souvenirs.
- The renovation used expedited no‑bid awards to firms including Atlantic Industrial Coatings and payments now total roughly $14.6–$14.7 million, and preservation groups have sued over the fast‑tracked review process; officials say buried circulation pipes were not fully replaced and will be addressed later.
- The Reflecting Pool has a long record of leaks and blooms, and pool experts warn that pumping untreated river water into a dark‑bottomed pool makes algae likely to return, meaning the visible failures could presage more work, costs, and political scrutiny before July celebrations.