White House Says Lincoln Pool Is Clear After $14.7 Million Renovation Drew Bird-Death Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jun 27
White House Says Lincoln Pool Is Clear After $14.7 Million Renovation Drew Bird-Death Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jun 27
Summary
Thursday photos and a White House statement said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had turned “crystal clear” after days of criticism over green algae, chemical treatment and reports of three dead ducks.
The scrutiny centered on renovation tactics that included a blue rubberized floor coating and highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide, while the National Park Service-managed pool still takes about a month to drain and refill.
A mile and a half away, the Capitol Reflecting Pool remained largely clear under the Architect of the Capitol, whose smaller trapezoidal basin can be drained, cleaned and repaired in about one week.
That contrast sharpened questions about management choices at Lincoln, though Capitol officials said any large water feature faces recurring problems from corrosion, animals, bacteria and algae.
The comparison also carries political weight: Congress shifted the Capitol pool from Park Service control in 2011, and lawmakers now split between praising its upkeep and faulting the White House project’s timeline and planning.