The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., began refilling with water on October 12 as crews finalize repairs following a problematic renovation that left the landmark with coating defects, algae growth, and significant cost overruns. National Park Service officials indicated that contractors are applying final touches to the cleanup and restoration effort.
An inspection found that the pool’s new liner, installed during recent resurfacing, failed in at least 85 locations. Issues included blistering, peeling, and cracking, which were attributed to installation mistakes, use of inappropriate materials, and an accelerated project timeline. The Interior Department confirmed that the contractor responsible, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, is contractually required to make the necessary repairs and is actively addressing the problems.
“A new contractor is not being brought in because the current company is obligated to complete the corrections and is progressing well,” an Interior Department spokesperson said. Repair work has involved replacing water valves, clearing clogged piping, sealing leaks, pressure-washing surrounding walkways, and upgrading the water treatment system to a nanobubbler technology.
Officials expressed confidence that the pool will reopen in better condition than at any point in its more than century-long history. The renovation project was initially announced by then-President Donald Trump in April 2026, who requested the pool be coated in an “American flag blue” hue. At the time, the project was expected to take one to two weeks, with completion planned ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
However, after the pool was first refilled in early June, an algae bloom caused the water to turn green, and chunks of the new coating began peeling, prompting crews to drain the pool again to remedy the issues. Investigations suggested some coating failures resulted from workers applying the material shortly before refilling.
Following the initial problems, four individuals were charged with vandalism related to damage at the pool, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn. Those charges were later dropped after prosecutors cited flawed installation rather than deliberate tampering as the cause.
The cost of the project has ballooned to more than $16 million, far exceeding the original estimate of under $2 million. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the expenditures, highlighting the pool’s prior state of neglect, including algae issues and water leakage.
“President Trump promised to make D.C. safe and beautiful, and he’s delivering,” Rogers said. “For years, the Reflecting Pool sat neglected, plagued with algae, and leaking millions of gallons of water. Fixing it was common sense.”
The National Park Service warned that water may appear temporarily cloudy during the refilling process but should clarify over time. The timeline for removing the fencing around the pool remains undecided.