A Small Firm Steps into the Limelight with the Task of Cleaning a Historic Landmark
A small company from Ohio, with a unique water treatment technology, is in the spotlight for its efforts to cleanse the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The technology, known as the "ozone nanobubbler", injects 500 million tiny bubbles into every teaspoon of water, aiming to break down algae, bacteria and other chemicals.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the current administration's endorsement of this technology as "state of the art", the task is not without its complications. The company is attempting to treat a 6.5 million-gallon landmark that has resisted cleanliness for decades. The technology itself, just five years old, has never been used or tested on a pool.
Further complicating the situation, the broader renovation project has been plagued by issues, including a peeling bottom and allegations of vandalism. The company has now hired a crisis communications firm to navigate the uncharted political waters it finds itself in, as it works on improving the pool's water quality.
Political Intricacies
Despite the political storm surrounding the project, the company's president and chief operating officer maintains that the project is going according to plan. The company's involvement in the project has become politically charged due to the owner's campaign donations and the pool's symbolic significance in current national division and perceived failures of the current administration.
Will the Technology Prove Effective?
There are lingering doubts about the long-term effectiveness of the new technology, especially since there is no set timeline from the Department of Interior for the essential repairs to the decades-old pipes necessary to keep the technology operational. An industry expert from Pool Magazine, who has a background in pool service and construction, commented that the effectiveness of the technology in such a large and shallow body of water remains to be seen.
Project Timeline and Execution
The company had to think on its feet from the outset. The permanent ozone nanobubbler unit had not been ready when the pool was being refilled with water, so temporary equipment was brought in. This temporary system was removed and reinstalled due to undisclosed reasons, during which an algae bloom occurred. The permanent unit was installed later and began operating independently.
How the Technology Works
The permanent ozone nanobubbler technology is housed in a small pump house near the Reflecting Pool. It functions by pulling in air and sending an electrical current that breaks up O2 into pure oxygen molecules to form "ozone". This ozone is then injected into the master water pipe, which splits into numerous smaller pipes providing water to the Reflecting Pool. The success of this system relies on the viability of these pipes.
The Innovative Technology
The ozone nanobubbler technology is new, but industry experts find it promising. One of the key factors that make it effective is the ability for the ozone in the powerful bubbles to stay in the water, reacting with it potentially for days. This new technology forms a microsystem that is more biologically active in battling bacteria. Independent research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published in 2020 confirmed the technology's effectiveness in remediating harmful algal blooms.
Contract and Political Dynamics
The company was awarded a no-bid contract in April, bypassing the typical competitive-bidding process for government contracts. This decision has attracted scrutiny due to the company's co-owner being a known supporter and donor to the current president. The company has since sought to distance this co-owner from its daily operations.
What's Next?
The company's employees have been at the pool nearly every day since early June and are expected to stay at least through the July Fourth holiday. The next step is to assess the performance of the permanent machine operating on its own. If the green-hued water returns, the company has the capability to bring in more units to augment the system and has other mitigation options at its disposal.
A small company from Ohio, with a unique water treatment technology, is in the spotlight for its efforts to cleanse the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The technology, known as the "ozone nanobubbler", injects 500 million tiny bubbles into every teaspoon of water, aiming to break down algae, bacteria and other chemicals.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the current administration's endorsement of this technology as "state of the art", the task is not without its complications. The company is attempting to treat a 6.5 million-gallon landmark that has resisted cleanliness for decades. The technology itself, just five years old, has never been used or tested on a pool.
Further complicating the situation, the broader renovation project has been plagued by issues, including a peeling bottom and allegations of vandalism. The company has now hired a crisis communications firm to navigate the uncharted political waters it finds itself in, as it works on improving the pool's water quality.
Political Intricacies
Despite the political storm surrounding the project, the company's president and chief operating officer maintains that the project is going according to plan. The company's involvement in the project has become politically charged due to the owner's campaign donations and the pool's symbolic significance in current national division and perceived failures of the current administration.
Will the Technology Prove Effective?
There are lingering doubts about the long-term effectiveness of the new technology, especially since there is no set timeline from the Department of Interior for the essential repairs to the decades-old pipes necessary to keep the technology operational. An industry expert from Pool Magazine, who has a background in pool service and construction, commented that the effectiveness of the technology in such a large and shallow body of water remains to be seen.
Project Timeline and Execution
The company had to think on its feet from the outset. The permanent ozone nanobubbler unit had not been ready when the pool was being refilled with water, so temporary equipment was brought in. This temporary system was removed and reinstalled due to undisclosed reasons, during which an algae bloom occurred. The permanent unit was installed later and began operating independently.
How the Technology Works
The permanent ozone nanobubbler technology is housed in a small pump house near the Reflecting Pool. It functions by pulling in air and sending an electrical current that breaks up O2 into pure oxygen molecules to form "ozone". This ozone is then injected into the master water pipe, which splits into numerous smaller pipes providing water to the Reflecting Pool. The success of this system relies on the viability of these pipes.
The Innovative Technology
The ozone nanobubbler technology is new, but industry experts find it promising. One of the key factors that make it effective is the ability for the ozone in the powerful bubbles to stay in the water, reacting with it potentially for days. This new technology forms a microsystem that is more biologically active in battling bacteria. Independent research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published in 2020 confirmed the technology's effectiveness in remediating harmful algal blooms.
Contract and Political Dynamics
The company was awarded a no-bid contract in April, bypassing the typical competitive-bidding process for government contracts. This decision has attracted scrutiny due to the company's co-owner being a known supporter and donor to the current president. The company has since sought to distance this co-owner from its daily operations.
What's Next?
The company's employees have been at the pool nearly every day since early June and are expected to stay at least through the July Fourth holiday. The next step is to assess the performance of the permanent machine operating on its own. If the green-hued water returns, the company has the capability to bring in more units to augment the system and has other mitigation options at its disposal.