Jesse James
It’s been a while, but Friends of + Pool have been striving to build a self-filtering swimming pool in the notoriously polluted Manhattan waters. The goal is to provide an immersive and unique way to teach city-dweller about clean water and the importance of clean water. The group recently took a big step in the right direction, unveiling of a public plus-shaped LED light installation. The Floating Light Installation floats atop the East River and is capable of testing and reporting on water quality.
The organization’s name inspires the 50 by 50-foot installation’s plus shape. As well as New York City’s continued efforts to improve water quality. The pool features sensors that test and analyze the structure’s surrounding water. The light emits a blue light when the water is safe, in theory, to swim, based on levels of a safe bacteria called Enterococci. However, when the water is unsafe, the installation changes to a bright pink hue. In addition to the shift in color, the levels of brightness and sharpness reflect the amount of oxygen found in the water; as well as the pH level.
The floating structure shifts based on the currents. Friends of + Pool consists of an array of organizations dedicated to keeping NYC’s water clean. These include PlayLab Inc, Family New York, Floating Point, and Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. The installation will be on display in the Seaport District until January 4, 2020. Take a look at the Floating Light Installation in the images below and stay tuned for more on this coming soon.
Photos via Iwan Baan
