Is the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ready to reopen after repairs?

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is filling with water again as crews finish repairs to a renovation that went wrong, leaving the iconic Washington DC landmark with peeling blue coating, algae problems and a price tag far above its original estimate.

Water was flowing back into the pool Monday, Oct. 12, as contractors worked on completing the work. A National Park Service sign said crews were putting the final touches on efforts to clean, repair and beautify the landmark.

The refill follows an inspection that found the pool's new liner failed in at least 85 places after the renovation, The Washington Post reported Oct. 14. The report identified problems including blistering, peeling and cracks, attributing the failures to installation errors, wrong materials and a rushed schedule.

The Interior Department said the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, is contractually obligated to fix the pool and is making progress on repairs.

"As good stewards of taxpayer money ... it would be wasteful to bring in a new company to finish the job that another company is contractually obligated to remedy and is well on its way to doing so," an Interior Department spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said the work has included replacing deteriorating water valves, flushing clogged pipes, sealing leaks, pressure-washing sidewalks and replacing the pool's water treatment system with a nanobubbler system.

"The Reflecting Pool will soon be opened in a condition better than ever before in its 100+ year history," the spokesperson said.

What went wrong with the reflecting pool renovations?

President Donald Trump announced the resurfacing project in April, calling for the pool to be coated in an "American flag blue" color. At the time, he said the project would take just one to two weeks to complete.

The plan was to have the pool completed by the Fourth of July celebrations, but after the pool was refilled in early June, an algae bloom turned the water green and pieces of the new coating began peeling off.

The pool was then drained again so crews could address the problems.

The inspection found that some of the coating failures likely occurred because workers were still applying the material shortly before the pool was refilled, according to the Post.

Trump officials initially blamed "vandals, and four people were charged. Prosecutors later dropped the cases, including against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, citing a flawed installation rather than vandalism.

The overall project cost has been reported at more than $16 million, well above the administration's original estimate of less than $2 million.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the renovation, saying the repairs were necessary because the deteriorating pool had been neglected by past administrations.

"President Trump promised to make D.C. safe and beautiful, and he's delivering," Rogers said. "For years, the Reflecting Pool sat neglected, plagued with algae, and leaking millions of gallons of water. Fixing it was common sense."

The National Park Service says the water may temporarily appear cloudy as the pool refills, but it should clear as the process continues. It's unclear when fencing around the pool will be removed.