Even the internet’s favorite pool guy has no clue how to fix the reflecting pool

Pool Expert Analyzes Technical Challenges at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

A National Park Service worker manipulates algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, June 14, 2026. Ken Cedeno/AFP via Getty

This story was originally published by WIRED and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Steve Goodale operates the YouTube channel Swimming Pool Steve, which has nearly 91,000 subscribers and covers subjects including concrete bonding and hot tub maintenance. He has discussed the condition of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after an algal bloom developed following a renovation. The project had been described by the Trump administration as intended to produce water with an appearance resembling the American flag in advance of the United States semiquincentennial.

Goodale stated that the available images and videos show sections of the newly installed lining appearing to detach. President Trump has said the pool will be drained and attributed the condition to vandalism. U.S. Park Police have made arrests of individuals who entered the water. Goodale has been contacted by multiple reporters seeking technical explanations.

In an interview, Goodale addressed questions about the pool. The exchange has been edited for length and clarity.

Are you tired of repeated inquiries on this topic?

Goodale compared the volume of requests to a scenario of continuous focus on one subject.

He noted that he has discussed pool maintenance for years, but public attention has increased recently.

Reporters have asked for a single cause of the pool’s condition. Goodale said the information available, including photographs, videos, and water chemistry data, is limited. He described the reflecting pool as an open-air system with multiple interacting elements: the structure itself, water chemistry, and filtration equipment. He observed that incomplete execution of any maintenance step can produce visible problems.

Goodale said projects of this scale involve numerous variables that can lead to failure even when experienced personnel are involved. He pointed to images showing portions of the interior surface separating as an indication of an installation issue.

A duckling swims in algae in the Reflecting Pool in Washington, June 16, 2026. Chip Somodevilla via Getty

Some observers have suggested hydrogen peroxide use as a possible factor in the lining separation. Goodale said the chemical resistance of membrane materials is finite and depends on the specific products and concentrations applied. He added that membrane installation requires control of ambient conditions, substrate moisture, application thickness, and material compatibility. Failure of the membrane to adhere to the substrate for any of these reasons can result in system-wide detachment.

President Trump has attributed the observed damage to vandalism. Goodale said he could not identify a mechanism that would produce the pattern of separation shown in available images. He noted that the affected areas appeared localized and that he had not seen documentation of a continuous 250-foot separation.

The Department of the Interior has stated that nanobubbler equipment is operating. Goodale described the technology as an ozone injection system that introduces oxygen. In principle, the system can suppress algae growth directly and can limit phosphorus release from bottom sediment, which serves as a nutrient source.

Goodale was asked whether accumulated sediment would affect water color. He said initial layers are thin but can increase depending on source water quality and filtration design.

Water for the pool has historically been drawn from the Tidal Basin, with a switch to municipal supply when algae levels in the basin are high. The administration has not provided current details on the water source in use.

Goodale said testing the water now in the pool for phosphate and nitrate concentrations would indicate nutrient availability for algae. He noted reports that access to the pool has been restricted, but stated that a direct sample would be the standard method for such an assessment.

Regarding remediation, Goodale said he could not address specific costs. He observed that draining a volume of approximately 6.5 million gallons constitutes a substantial operation. He said the extent of required repairs depends on whether the separation is confined to repairable sections or indicates a broader installation problem. He emphasized evaluating the pool as an integrated system.

The reflecting pool renovation was undertaken to address prior maintenance needs and to prepare the site for the 2026 anniversary events. Algal growth has been observed in previous years when water conditions permitted. The current lining installation used a membrane system selected for durability and appearance. Park Service records indicate that similar membrane applications have been used at other water features, with performance varying according to site-specific conditions and ongoing maintenance.

Arrest records show that several individuals were detained after entering the water during the period when the lining condition was under review. Officials cited safety and preservation concerns. No public statement has detailed the precise charges or outcomes of those cases.

Water chemistry data released by the National Park Service to date includes measurements of pH and temperature but has not included comprehensive nutrient profiles. Independent testing by outside laboratories has not been reported. The administration has stated that additional equipment and monitoring will continue until water clarity is restored.

Goodale concluded that resolution requires systematic assessment of all system components rather than isolated adjustments. He said further documentation of water parameters and lining condition would allow more precise diagnosis.