Workers used hydrogen peroxide as the Department of the Interior deploys nanobubbler technology to remove algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where Trump’s promised repainting project has already prompted scrutiny after videos showed a chemical trea
By late morning Tuesday, a slick green sheen still covered most of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—even as online videos showed workers pouring what appeared to be a chemical treatment into the water.
The images landed at a sensitive moment. Weeks earlier. President Donald Trump had promised the pool would be an “American Flag Blue. ” and just days after multimillion-dollar renovations were completed. the Department of the Interior said it was moving fast to remove green algae and restore the pool’s normal color before the country marks its 250th birthday.
The big question spread across social media was whether the videos were real, and what that chemical could mean for safety.
The Department of the Interior has been clear about the approach it says it is taking. In a statement dated June 15 to the U.S. Department of the Interior. the department said it was deploying “nanobubbler technology” to destroy the pool’s algae and that the reflecting pool would be fixed “for good.” It later confirmed it would be using hydrogen peroxide to treat the pool. describing it as a milder treatment than chorine.
The department also said. “There are no harmful side effects to marine life or to the environment. ” according to the statement. It added that the nanobubble technology has been tested and validated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The Ohio State University. and The University of Florida.
In the videos shared Tuesday morning, a CBS News reporter showed workers pouring gallons of hydrogen peroxide into the reflecting pool. Additional videos showed several boxes lining part of the pool as workers poured the liquid from gallon jugs into the water.
Some of what was poured appears to have been Harris 12%. a concentrated formula the brand says is “safe for use around people and pets when used as directed.” However. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has classified hydrogen peroxide as hazardous. OSHA says it can cause skin burns and eye damage if touched. and that it could cause mouth and throat irritation and pain if swallowed.
OSHA’s guidance is blunt: “Avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Avoid breathing vapors, mists, or spray.”
It’s still not clear how many gallons were used during the Tuesday treatment. Some people believe it would likely take thousands of gallons to effectively shock the pool, but the pool’s condition at 1 p.m. Tuesday—most of it still green—suggests the work was underway rather than finished.
The sequence of facts—renovations completed. algae resurfacing. videos showing hydrogen peroxide poured from jugs. and the department’s pledge to restore the pool’s color—puts timing at the center of the story. The pool remained green by 1 p.m. Tuesday while officials pointed to a targeted plan designed to eliminate algae and bring the water back to its intended appearance.
For now, the Department of the Interior is betting that its treatment will solve the algae problem decisively. Yet with OSHA warning of real hazards from hydrogen peroxide exposure. the public’s focus remains sharp: how the chemicals are handled. what safeguards are in place. and how quickly the pool can return to the blue promised for a major national milestone.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool hydrogen peroxide nanobubbler technology Department of the Interior algae removal OSHA NOAA Ohio State University University of Florida