> Federal government awards $2.7M to company to fix Reflecting Pool algae problem

Website by GoDaddy. Another fly-by-night contractor with no relevant project history.

https://americanagenergy.com/

Cost & Performance Breakdown

    •    Copper Plating Lining

    ◦    Initial Capital Cost: $10M – $25M+

    ◦    Annual Operating Cost: Minimal

    ◦    Primary Mechanism: Oligodynamic effect / direct contact biocide

    ◦    Algae & Water Quality Impact: Low to Moderate. It prevents algae from attaching directly to the surface, but it does not clear suspended murky water or stop free-floating algae blooms.

    •    Surface Aerating Fountains ("Sprinklers")

    ◦    Initial Capital Cost: $25,000 – $55,000

    ◦    Annual Operating Cost: $6,000 – $12,000

    ◦    Primary Mechanism: Surface agitation and aeration

    ◦    Algae & Water Quality Impact: Moderate. It breaks surface tension and adds oxygen to disrupt algae mats, but it does not filter particles or debris.

    •    Sub-Surface Bubblers

    ◦    Initial Capital Cost: $12,000 – $25,000

    ◦    Annual Operating Cost: $3,000 – $6,000

    ◦    Primary Mechanism: Bottom-up aeration and circulation

    ◦    Algae & Water Quality Impact: Moderate. It prevents stagnant dead zones with lower power draw than surface fountains, though water remains un-filtered.

    •    Chemical Dosing & Dye

    ◦    Initial Capital Cost: $0

    ◦    Annual Operating Cost: $15,000 – $35,000

    ◦    Primary Mechanism: Algaecides and sunlight-blocking blue dye

    ◦    Algae & Water Quality Impact: High. Provides direct chemical control over algae, but requires continuous, ongoing chemical applications.

    •    Full Industrial Filtration System (Actual National Park Service Solution)

    ◦    Initial Capital Cost: $10M – $15M (infrastructure portion only)

    ◦    Annual Operating Cost: $400,000 – $800,000

    ◦    Primary Mechanism: High-capacity sand filters, industrial pumps, and UV/Ozone sanitation

    ◦    Algae & Water Quality Impact: Very High. Continuously circulates, sanitizes, and filters the 6.7 million gallons to deliver crystal-clear water.

Key Materials & Treatments Takeaways

    •    Copper Plating Limits: While copper prevents surface cling, it oxidizes into a green patina over time, releases ions too slowly for open-water algae, and reacts poorly with standard pool chlorine.

    •    Alternative Non-Porous Linings: Materials like glazed glass tile, high-density PVC, or epoxy coatings create smooth physical barriers against algae anchoring, while natural Sukabumi stone absorbs algae-feeding nitrates.

    •    Aeration vs. Filtration: Sprinklers and bubblers keep water moving to slow down stagnation, but keeping a 6.7-million-gallon pool clear requires full-scale industrial pumping and filtration (~800–1,200 GPM).

wrote:

Website by GoDaddy. Another fly-by-night contractor with no relevant project history.

https://americanagenergy.com/

Looks almost as legitimate as the “Ecohealth Alliance”