Op-Ed: There's a Natural Way to Fix the Reflecting Pool

The Reflecting Pool in DC is essentially an "algae farm," writes Washington Post columnist Michael Coren. But the problem goes back further than you might think, he argues. The original builders tried to create a pristine pool of water on what used to be a Potomac marsh. The best solution? "Bring back the swamp," he writes. No, he's not suggesting removing the Reflecting Pool and letting nature run its course. But it's possible to create a far more natural body of water that is cleaner and maybe even swimmable, argues Coren. To do that, the government should forget about hiring regular pool contractors and dosing the pool with chemicals.

"Controlling algae by killing it in an enclosed body of water is a bit like pulling up the weeds from your garden, scattering their seeds around and then tossing fertilizer on top," he writes. "Chemicals used to kill algae burst their cells, releasing organic matter back into the water: the perfect nutrient mix for growing new algae." The better idea is to stop fighting biology and use it. Coren speaks with natural-pool designers and algae scientists who outline systems of running water, gravel, biofilm, and wetlands that strip out the nitrogen and phosphorus algae need, delivering clear, low-maintenance water. Read the full column for details on how that might work.