Common Typology, Durability and Pathologies of the Swimming Pools in the Algarve Region - Implications in the Sustainability

Abstract

The University of Algarve, in consortium with Saint-Gobain Weber Portugal and Cristal Construction- Materials and Civil Construction Works, is developing a new concept of sustainable swimming pool (SPOOLs – sustainable pools project), more environmentally friendly, increasing energy efficient and reducing maintenance costs. The Algarve is a popular touristic destination in Portugal and in Europe. It receives millions of international and national tourists annually. Algarve is known by its warm and sunny climate and the people appreciate the houses and hotels with swimming pools, preferably surrounded by grass and trees and thus providing a pleasant green ambience. The construction, installation and maintenance of swimming pools is relatively recent, existing in large scale only in the last 50 years. During this period, the construction technologies evolved significantly and nowadays there are different solutions. Most of the existing swimming pools in Algarve, correspond to small swimming pools, built in residential areas and therefore in most cases there is no available data about the design and technical specifications. Within the scope of the I&DT project SPOOLs, an online questionnaire about the typology and durability of swimming pools in the Algarve was elaborated, for which more than 100 responses were obtained. From the analysis of the results it is possible to make several considerations about the durability and construction pathologies. The results hereby presented validate the conclusions, regarding the major swimming pools pathologies, as well as their sustainability.