Tours around the 618-meter-long pool, one of the American capital's top tourist attractions, have been a regular feature during the spring.
In April, President Donald Trump ordered the pool to be renovated ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary on July 4, as the water level was leaking. Time was running out, and instead of conducting a tender, the contract was awarded to two companies that Trump said were cheaper than the authorities' proposals.
Shortly after the pool's grand opening in early June, large sections of the pool liner began to peel off in thick flakes. Trump has claimed that "vandals" destroyed the bottom by cutting into it with knives.
Rising price tag
But the problems are likely due to flaws in how the coating was installed, according to a review from The Washington Post based on image analysis and interviews with experts.
Four experienced waterproofing experts have reviewed the newspaper's conclusions and concluded that the damage pattern strongly suggests errors in the application process.
The president initially stated that the renovation would cost $1.5 million, but by June the cost had risen to over $16 million.
Canoeist arrested
At least five people have been arrested for alleged vandalism at the pool, US media reported in late June. One of them, former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, denied charges in a Washington DC court last week that he intentionally vandalized the pool.
Hearn, 67, has said he reached into the water to take a closer look at the loosened sealant and that he released a piece of it when a park employee asked him to do so.
His lawyers and critics of the Trump administration see the case as an example of abuse of prosecutorial power, blaming Hearn for poorly executed renovation work.
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