ROG62 » 22 minutes ago » wrote: ↑
The Obama project fixed systems but not the root geology
The 2010–2012 rehabilitation under
President Obama poured about $34–35 million into pilings, a new circulation and ozone filtration plant, and other upgrades meant to improve water quality and slow loss, but those measures could not seal dozens of expansion joints or reverse decades of shifting ground, so leaks persisted afterward
[4] [3][5]. Multiple outlets note the project improved stagnation and filtration but did not eliminate the water loss or recurring algae blooms
[6] [7].
3. Leaks have multiple technical sources, not a single fixThe pool’s length — more than 2,000 feet — creates dozens of joints between concrete slabs that are intrinsically prone to leakage, and failing supply and return lines have also contributed to losses; Park Service documents and reporting emphasize that addressing one problem (for example filtration) doesn’t necessarily stop seepage through joints and buried pipes
[2] [1]. News accounts quantify the continuing loss post‑rehab, showing the problem diminished but remained substantial, illustrating a multi‑component failure rather than a single missed task
[8] [5].
4. Algae and shallow depth complicated technical successBecause the reflecting pool is deliberately shallow to maximize the mirror effect, it warms quickly in summer, encouraging algae growth that defeats some water‑treatment efforts and requires ongoing operational maintenance beyond structural repair
[2] [1]. Reporters and fact checks note that even after filtration upgrades, algae returned, signaling that biology and hydraulics together undermined a pure engineering solution
[6] [7].
https://factually.co/fact-checks/politi ... ect-9665ac
****….sooner rather than later…
