Team Behind Floating East River + Pool Launches a Lab to Test the Proverbial Waters

Though the idea of a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-floating-pool-lady-an-old-barge-transformed-into-a-buoyant-swimming-pool-in-the-bronx/" target="_blank"> giant floating pool</a> in the East River may sound like fiction, the <a href="http://www.pluspool.org/" target="_blank">+ Pool</a> is slowly nudging its way towards reality. The team behind the plus-shaped, water-filtering water body recently launched a miniature version of their concept at Pier 40 on the Hudson River. Their Float Lab will soon take the plunge and start testing waters with its on-board filtration system, hopefully scoring high enough to pave the way for a large-scale version by summer time!

The East River <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/dine-inside-of-a-swimming-pool-at-this-repurposed-rooftop-pool-farm/" target="_blank">swimming pool</a> would stretch out in a giant plus-shape off of the of Brooklyn Bridge River Park, accessible by a long pier-like walkway.

The public pool would draw water right from the East River, a thought that sends shudders through some, but if successful would effectively filter the toxins and contaminants from the dirty river before it touches visitors’ skin.

The +Pool’s special walls would suck in river water and clean it, not just for swimming, but also pump it back into the river, making our waterways as a whole much cleaner.

After a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/694835844/pool-tile-by-tile" target="_blank">successful Kickstarter campaign</a> which raised more than the goal, the Float Lab is the first step to making +Pool a reality.

The test lab is modeled as a tiny section of the pool, complete with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/gowanus-lowline-winners-envision-a-more-sustainable-future-for-brooklyns-toxic-canal/" target="_blank">filtration system</a>, and is a partnership of a slew of interested parties including Persak &amp; Wurmfeld, Arup, Olollo, Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, CUNY, Riverkeeper, River Project and the Hudson River Park Trust.

These partners are all vying for this filtration system to become successful- not just to provide an awesome place to take a dip, but to also effectively help to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-east-river-blueway-will-make-the-waterfront-accessible-for-recreation-and-boating/" target="_blank">clean up the East River</a>.