Lincoln Reflecting Pool Renovation Tops $16 Million as Algae Persists and New Paint Peels

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 19

$16 million-plus in taxpayer-funded work is now slated for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after repainting costs rose to $14.65 million and a separate algae-control contract added $1.74 million.
Two extra payments totaling $1.54 million went to Atlantic Industrial Coatings within two weeks of the repainting's completion, though contract records gave little detail beyond saying the work remained within the original scope.
Algae and peeling drove the added spending despite contract language promising a seamless, waterproof, antimicrobial and anti-algae surface suitable for continuous submersion.
The National Park Service said a no-bid nanobubble system had killed the algae ahead of July 4 events and crews were vacuuming dead growth from the bottom, while payment status for the contractors was not immediately clear in federal databases.