Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Gets $1.7 Million Ozone Nanobubbler System Amid Corporate Favoritism Concerns
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A $1.7 million ozone nanobubbler, installed by Ohio-based Greenwater Services, is being tested to keep the Reflecting Pool clear ahead of July 4 celebrations. However, the no-bid contract and the company's ties to wealthy donors raise questions about transparency and priorities.
Washington — The National Park Service has begun operating a permanent ozone nanobubbler system, costing taxpayers $1.7 million, to inject billions of microscopic oxygen bubbles into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This effort, aimed at controlling algae and bacteria before the July 4 holiday, comes as public funds are funneled into high-tech solutions rather than addressing underlying infrastructure needs. The system, developed by Greenwater Services of Brookfield, Ohio, follows a brief trial with four mobile units that were deployed on June 6, removed on June 12, and reinstalled a day later. The permanent unit, housed in a pump house near the pool, began running on June 25 after the temporary machines were taken out.
“What I think everyone learned is that when the system is allowed to run, it cleans the water and keeps it clean,” spokesperson Erin Kramer said.
While industry researchers tout the nanobubbler technology as highly effective, with Heather Raymond of Ohio State University citing a 90 percent effectiveness rate in laboratory tests, the real-world impact remains unproven. Notably, Raymond has not been involved in the Reflecting Pool project, raising concerns about the lack of independent oversight.
Greenwater Services was awarded a no-bid contract in April, a move defended by the Interior Department as necessary due to the company’s supposed expertise and the tight timeline for the 250th-anniversary celebrations. Yet, the company’s co-owner, J.J. Cafaro, is a known Trump donor with a history of legal troubles, underscoring the persistent problem of corporate favoritism and the revolving door between business and government. The department claims the White House did not influence the selection, but the lack of transparency in the procurement process is troubling.
Meanwhile, the pool’s aging pipe network, which supplies water to the nanobubbler, remains in disrepair—a stark reminder of the government’s misplaced priorities. Officials admit the system’s performance will need to be monitored as temperatures rise, and Greenwater plans to continue daily water testing through the holiday weekend, with additional temporary units on standby if algae reappears. Instead of investing in sustainable, long-term solutions for public infrastructure, resources are once again directed toward quick fixes that benefit well-connected companies.